Efficient Somatic Embryogenesis and Plant Regeneration from Immature Embryos of Tapiscia sinensis Oliv., an Endemic and Endangered Species in China

Abstract

High-frequency somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration were achieved from immature cotyledonary-stage embryos in the endangered plant, Tapiscia sinensis Oliv. Plant growth regulators with different concentrations and combinations on embryogenesis capacity were studied. The optimal explants for in vitro somatic embryogenesis were immature embryos in T. sinensis. A high callus induction rate of 100% was achieved on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with 1.0 mg·Ll−1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 0.5% (w/v) activated charcoal. Alternatively, a high induction rate (96.16%) of somatic embryogenesis was obtained on MS basal medium supplemented with the combination of 0.05 mg·L−1 α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 0.2 mg·L−1 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA), and somatic embryos proliferated fastest on the mentioned medium supplemented with 0.5% (w/v) activated charcoal and 3% (w/v) sucrose, inoculation of explants proliferating 21 times in the 23-day subculture. Of the 100 plantlets transferred to field after the acclimation, 95 (95%) survived. Based on the histocytological observations, the development of somatic embryos was similar to that of zygotic embryos. There were two accumulation peaks of starch grains in the embryogenic calli and in the globular-stage embryos, both closely related to the energy supply, and the embryoids were of multicelluar origin.