| Abstract: | Calli of Saposhnikovia divaricata (Turcz.) Schischk. were induced from the roots of test tube seedlings cultured on MS medium containing 0.5 mg/L 2,4-D. Cell suspension was established by shaking the caul in liquid medium of the same components supplemented with 10% coconut milk. After the formation of embryogenic clusters, 2,4-D was omitted promoting the transformation of the embryogenic clusters to somatic embryos. Micro and submicroscopic: structural changes during the single cell to globular embryonic stage were observed. It was noticed that cortical endoplasmic reticulum appeared in the cells at the stage of embryogenic clump formation but was absent in other stages. Perhaps this was related to the metabolic specification leading to embryo formation. Spherosomes were observed of embryogenesis but remarkably increased in number at proglobular embryo stage. Meanwhile, the central electric dense matrix became progressively smaller and paler, while the outer part became enlarged and more transparent. This implied that the spherosomes took part in the storage of proteins or lipidproteins in the early stages of embryogenesis and transformation to lipid dror)s when the proteins were exhausted in the development of embryo, vacuolar protein bodies could be risualized in many cells in the proglobular embryo stage. This together with the existance and changes of spherosomes was similar to that observed in Peucedanum terebmthaceum. Further studies are meritted to approach, whether these are general phenomena in Umbelliferae. This work also revealed that the aggregation of single cells in suspension culture stimulated the initiation of embryogenesis. |
