Meristem culture of Ophiopogon japonicus and production of embryo-like structures

Meristems of Ophiopogon japonicus (Liliaceae) were grown on a modified MS medium without auxins or cytokinins and plantlets and embryogenic callus were obtained at a low frequency. When meristems growing on modified basal medium were briefly soaked in 0.54 mM naphtaleneacetic acid (NAA) or temporarily grown on medium that contained NAA or NAA and benzyladenine, a larger proportion of meristems developed into plantlets or produced callus and additional plantlets following their return to basal medium. Calluses grown in liquid culture without auxins or cytokinins produced abundant single cells and cell aggregates. Larger cell aggregates formed embryo-like structures that produced roots, cotyledons, and then plantlets following transfer to soilid medium. Prolonged liquid culture produced embryo-like structures directly in liquid medium. These structures met many of the criteria for somatic embryos and developed into normal plantlets when placed on solid medium.