Enhanced somatic embryogenesis in Selinum candolii DC. under a mineral oil overlay

Cell suspension cultures of Selinum candolii DC. obtained on liquid Murashige & Skoog's medium supplemented with 4.52 M 2,4-D and 1.16 M kinetin when plated on solid medium devoid of 2,4-D proliferated into a callus and subsequently produced 15–20 somatic embryos within 60 days. However, when the plated cells were overlaid with mineral oil, a decrease in callus formation coupled with a four-fold increase in the number of somatic embryos per gram fresh weight of the cells were observed after 30–45 days. Though no significant correlation could be found between the depth of mineral oil overlay and the number of somatic embryos produced, the embryoids that developed under mineral oil showed a lesser degree of secondary embryogenesis than the controls. The somatic embryos could be readily regenerated into plantlets.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4 dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - MS Murashige & Skoog's medium