biologia plantarum

Biologia plantarum 42:499-504, 1999 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1002690309666

Factors Influencing the Induction and Viability of Somatic Embryos of Quercus Robur L.

M. Endemann¹, E. Wilhelm¹

¹ Division of Life Sciences, Austrian Research Centers Seibersdorf, Seibersdorf, Austria

To induce somatic embryogenesis in Quercus robur L. immature zygotic embryos at different developmental stages were collected in weekly intervals from June until September in three consecutive years from four open pollinated trees at two Vienna sites. Acorns were surface sterilised and cultured firstly on P24 medium with 5μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 0.5 μM 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) or on hormone-free P24 medium and secondly on P24 medium with 0.9 μM BAP. The formation of white-yellow globular structures of somatic embryos started during the fourth week after the induction treatment. High induction frequencies of 30 - 80 % were achieved on 2,4-D/BAP medium, whereas rates on hormone-free medium were below 20 %. The initiation of somatic embryogenesis was favoured in the heartshaped and early cotyledonary stage of the zygotic embryo in all three years and lasted until the acorns reached maximum size in August.

Keywords: plant growth regulators; moisture content; acorn size; developmental stages

Subjects: acorn, zygotic embryos, seasonal changes; in vitro culture, somatic embryogenesis; oak, somatic embryogenesis; Quercus robur; somatic embryogenesis, induction and viability of embryos

Published: December 1, 1999  Show citation