Regeneration of somatic embryos and roots from quince leaves cultured on media with different macroelement composition

The effects of different macroelement combinations on somatic embryogenesis of quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) were tested. Leaves were excised from sh oot cultures of quince clones and cultured on macroelement combinations of 8 different growth media. Callus production varied depending on the medium and the clone combinations. The influence of genotype and macronutrient com bination on somatic embryo and root regeneration was also observed. Clone B A 29 showed the highest embryogenic properties and Murashige and Skoog-base d medium appeared to be the most favourable for somatic embryo formation. R oot regeneration was higher on Woody Plant Medium and Schenck and Hildebran dt-based media. Interactive effects between genotypes and macroelement comb inations were also detected both for embryo and root formation. In all trea tments, somatic embryos underwent early developmental arrest and failed to convert into plants. Differences in embryo and root regeneration observed a mong macroelement combinations may be ascribable to different levels of med ium nitrogen and probably to the ratio between nitrate and ammonium.