title: Effect of medium salt concentration on differentiation and maturation of somatic embryos of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz).
abstract: Culture of cassava somatic embryos on media with an altered macro- and micro-nutrient salt concentration affected embryo development and germination capability. In the tests, quarter-, half-, full- or double-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) media were compared. The maximum number of somatic embryos differentiated from a proliferative nodular embryogenic callus (NEC) on either half- or full-strength MS medium, and the greatest numbers of cotyledonary stage embryos were formed on full-strength MS medium. Developed somatic embryos were then desiccated above a saturated K2SO4 solution for 10 d. After transfer to germination medium, embryos that had developed on half- and full-strength MS medium yielded 8.3 and 8.6 germinants g(-1) NEC tissue, respectively. For this important but often disregarded culture factor, either half- or full-strength MS medium is recommended for both the differentiation and development of cassava somatic embryos that are capable of germination.
authors.affiliation: School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Groll
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Mycock
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Gray
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D018548:Cotyledon / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D003470:Culture Media / Q000494:pharmacology; D046508:Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D003890:Desiccation / Q000379:methods; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D018525:Germination / Q000187:drug effects; D002365:Manihot / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology; D012492:Salts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012639:Seeds / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D014867:Water / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D012492:Salts; D014867:Water