IN VITRO EMBRYOGENESIS DERIVED FROM LEAF CALLUS OF `TIFFANY' ROSE

Abstract

Friable callus from leaf disks of Rosa hybrida `Tiffany' was initiated within two weeks under dark conditions and 25°C on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 4 mg.liter-1 2,4-D. Callus was then transferred into MS medium containing 3 mg.liter-1 2,4-D. Within four weeks, rhizogenesis occurred on the callus surface.The rhizogenic calllus was subculture on MS medium plus 3 mg.liter-1 2,4-D every 4-6 weeks. Within six months from initial culture, somatic embryos were developed on the aging callus in darkness.Transfer of the aging callus with somatic embryos into 1/2 MS medium containing 1 mg.liter-1 kinetin and maintaining it under 46 μE m-2s-1 light for 16 hrs. resulted in greening of the somatic embryos.