Phenylacetic acid-induced somatic embryogenesis in cultured hypocotyl explants of geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum Bailey).
The effect of a non-indole compound, phenylacetic acid (PAA), on the induction of somatic embryogenesis in tissue cultures of geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum Bailey cv. Scarlet Orbit Improved) was investigated. Hypocotyl explants derived from young, dark-grown seedlings were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium (MS) supplemented with PAA or IAA (0.01-120 μM) alone or in combination with BAP (8 μM). Somatic embryogenesis was induced by both PAA and IAA at 0.01-20 μM with 8 μM BAP, however, the optima differed considerably for the two compounds. Maximal activity of IAA for somatic embryogenesis was found at 0.1-2.5 μM, whereas PAA gave best results at 10 and 20 μM under identical culture conditions. Higher concentrations (30-120 μM) of IAA or PAA in the medium induced callusing in the explants, but the callus was neither embryogenic nor morphogenic.
Department of Horticultural Science, University of Guelph, N1G 2W1, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
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Slimmon
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Qureshi
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Saxena