Somatic Embryogenesis and Analysis of Peroxidase in Cultured Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) Cotyledons

Somatic embryos were induced in lettuce cotyledons culturedon Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium containing either 2 mgl^–1 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) and 0.2 mg l^–1 naphthaleneaceticacid (NAA) or 0.2 mg l^–1 BA and 2 mg l^–1 NAA. Bothcombinations induced a frequency of over 70%. The explants culturedonly in the presence of 2,4-dichlorphenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D)did not produce somatic embryos. The development of the embryoidswas studied histologically and by scanning electron microscopy.Peroxidase activity was assayed and the isoenzyme pattern ofcalluses was determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.Callus from an embryogenic line showed a much higher peroxidaseactivity than that from a non-embryogenic line, one extra peroxidaseisozyme band being present and typical of the embryogenic callus.No qualitative differences were detectable between the embryogeniccalluses. Lactuca sativa L, lettuce, somatic embryogenesis, peroxidases, isoenzymes