SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS AND PLANTLET REGENERATION IN 'SAFED MUSLI' (CHLOROPHYTUM BORIVILIANUM)

Abstract

A method for somatic embryogenesis and plant/et regeneration in 'Safed Musl;'
(Chlorophytum borivilianum) is described. Callus was induced from immature
zygotic embryos inoculated on MS medium containing 1.0 mgr1 2,4-0. Initially,
callus was slow growing, soft, watery and slimy. After six weeks of growth and
subsequent subculture on MS medium containing 0.5 mgr1 2,4-0, yellow, compact,
hard, nodular, shiny somatic embryos were developed. Embryogenic cultures were
maintained by repeated SUbculturing every four weeks on MS medium containing
0.25 mgr1 2,4-0. Concentration of 2,4-0 was further reduced to 0.1 mg-1 for
maturation of these embryos. Plantlets could be recovered from 20 per cent of
these somatic embryos when inoculated on auxin free MS medium and the
cultures were transferred to light. Precocious germination of somatic embryos
and profuse rooting was frequently observed.