Somatic embryogenesis in leaf callus from a mature Quercus suber L. Tree

Authors: Pinto, Glória; Valentim, Helena; Costa, Armando; Castro, Sílvia; Santos, Conceição

Source: In Vitro Cellular and Development Biology - Plant, Volume 38, Number 6, November 2002 , pp. 569-572(4)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

Somatic embryos were obtained from a 60-yr-old Quercus suber L. tree. Leaf explants were cultivated on Murashige and Skoog medium with 30 gl⁻¹ sucrose, 3 gl⁻¹ gelrite, pH adjusted to 5.8, and different growth regulator combinations. Callus induction took place at 24±1°C in the dark during the first 3 wk. After 3 mo, calluses that showed embryogenic structures were transferred to the same medium without growth regulators. Somatic embryogenesis was only observed in calluses induced on E3 medium (supplemented with 4.5 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 9.0 μM zeatin). On average, 7.5% of the initial explants formed embryogenic calluses in this medium. Somatic embryo proliferation was high due to secondary embryogenesis. On average, 10% of the somatic embryos germinated and 40% of these germinated embryos converted into plants. Plants were elongated on the same medium without growth regulators and acclimated to greenhouse conditions.

Keywords: cork oak; embryogenic callus; embryo conversion

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1079/IVP2002352

Affiliations: 1: Email: esantos@bio.ua.pt

Publication date: 2002-11-01