SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS IN APOMICT BOECHERA HOLBOELLII

In this study we establish an efficient method for the regeneration for Boechera holboellii via somatic embryogenesis. Immature cotyledons from siliques of 4-6 month-old plants were cultured on MS medium supplemented with plant growth regulators (BA - 6-benzylaminopurine; NAA-alpha-naphthaleneacetic acid; TDZ - 1-phelyl-3-(1,2,3-thiadiazol-5-yl)urea: 2,4 D-2,4-dichlorophenoxy-acetic acid). A high frequency of embryogenic callus was produced after two weeks in culture. The somatic embryos were obtained with a frequency of 10% of explants on MS medium supplemented with 1.34 mu M NAA + 8.87 mu M BA and 2.68 mu M NAA + 17.74 mu M BA within 3 weeks in culture. The alternative regime of MS medium supplemented with 1.34 mu M NAA + 4.44 mu M BA produced somatic embryos at a frequency of 38%.