Somatic embryogenesis from leaf cultures of potato

An efficient procedure has been developed for inducing somatic embryogenesi s from leaf cultures of potato cv. Jyothi. Leaf sections were initially cul tured on 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) + benzyladenine (BA) and al pha -naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) + BA supplemented Murashige and Skoog (MS ) media. Nodular embryogenic callus developed From the cut ends of explants on media containing 2,4-D and BA, whereas compact callus developed on medi a containing NAA and BA. The explants with primary callus were subsequently moved onto MS media containing zeatin and/or gibberellic acid (GA(3)) and BA. Treatment with zeatin (22.8 muM) and BA (10.0 muM) resulted in the indu ction of the highest number of somatic embryos directly from meristematic c entres produced on the nodular tissue. Embryo induction and maturation took place on this medium. The cotyledonary stage embryos developed into comple te plantlets on hormone-free MS medium. A distinct feature of this study is the induction of somatic embryogenesis in leaf cultures of potato which ha s not been reported previously.