High Frequency of Somatic Embryogenesis and Recover of Fertile Cucumber Plants

Abstract

A simple procedure for regeneration of cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Poinsett 76) from cotyledon and hypocotyl explants has been developed. Somatic embryogenesis was induced on Murashige and Skoog (MS) salts and vitamins medium supplemented with 2,4-D at 2.0 mg·liter-1 and kinetin at 0.5 mg·liter-1. Development of embryos was accomplished on MS medium with NAA at 1.0 mg·liter-1 and kinetin at 0.5 mg·liter-1. Eighty-five percent of the mature somatic embryos formed showed a typical bipolar structure. All developed into morphologically normal plantlets when transferred to MS medium containing no growth regulators. Chemical name used: 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D).