Somatic embryogenesis in Pimpinella tirupatiensis Bal. and Subr., an endangered medicinal plant of Tirumala hills

Hypocotyl segments were excised from 4-week-old aseptic seedlings of Pimpin ella tirupatiensis, a medicinal plant and were cultured on MS medium with T DZ (1 mg/l) and NAA (0.5 mg/l), which gave rise to friable, pink callus aft er 4 weeks of culture. Embryogenic callus on transfer to MS medium containi ng TDZ (1 mg/l) produced somatic embryos after 8 weeks having dark green sh oots and white hairy roots. On MS + TDZ (1 mg/l) + BA (1 mg/l), somatic emb ryo formation was enhanced. Embryos isolated and germinated in the presence of MS + TDZ (1.0 mg/l) and GA(3) (1.0 Mg/l) showed normal flowering withou t any morphological variation on transplantation to soil.