The effect of auxin type and concentration on pecan (Carya illinoinensis) somatic embryo morphology and subsequent conversion into plants

Summary Embryogenic cultures were initiated from immature pecan zygotic embryos. Explants were induced for one week on Woody Plant Medium with either -naphthaleneacetic acid or 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid at 2, 6 or 12 mg/l, then subcultured monthly to fresh basal medium. Observations were made on callus production, embryo formation, and embryo morphology. Somatic embryo morphology and overall callus proliferation were affected by auxin type. Callus proliferation was less extensive and more somatic embryos resembling zygotic embryos were obtained from cultures initiated with -naphthaleneacetic acid than with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Repetitive somatic embryogenesis was obtained in all auxin treatments. Conversion into plantlets was affected by somatic embryo morphology in that embryos with poorly developed apices exhibited lower percentages of conversion than those with well developed single or multiple apices. Consequently, although more embryos were obtained with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, naphthaleneacetic acid was the superior auxin for production of somatic embryos more likely to convert into plants.Abbreviations BAP 6-benzylaminopurine - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - IBA indole-3-butyric acid - NAA -naphthaleneacetic acid - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - WPM Woody Plant Medium (Lloyd & McCown 1980)     

Improved plant regeneration from barley callus cultures by increased copper levels

Incorporation of cupric sulfate into callus induction, maintenance, and regeneration media significantly enhanced plant regeneration from callus cultures of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) immature embryos. Embryos from the cultivars Hector and Excel were cultured on MS medium containing 0, 0.1 (MS level), 0.5, 1.0, 5.0, 10.0, 50.0, or 100.0 M cupric sulfate. Plants were regenerated beginning at 8 weeks and continuing through 36 weeks. For Hector, medium containing 50 M copper regenerated significantly more plants than any other medium, with an average of 17 plants per embryo. In comparison, medium with MS copper levels (0.1 M) regenerated only 5 plants per embryo. For Excel, medium containing 5.0 M copper was the best, regenerating 1.4 plants per embryo. No Excel regenerants were obtained on medium with MS copper levels. Increased copper levels also increased the percentage of embryos that regenerated at least one plant, in both cultivars. The results indicate that MS copper levels are not optimized for barley callus cultures, and that improved plant regeneration can be obtained at higher copper concentrations.Abbreviations MS Murashige & Skoog (1962) - 2,4-d 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid The US Government's right to retain a non-exclusive royalty-free license on and to any copyright is acknowledged     

Effect of exogenous plant growth regulators on in vitro seed growth,embryo development,and haploid production in a cross between H. vulgare (L.) and H. bulbosum (L.)

Exogenous plant growth regulators are known to increase the efficiency of interspecific and intergeneric crosses. In vitro floret culture provides a defined system for assessing the importance of various plant growth regulators on the determinants of haploid production efficiency (seed set, embryos per seeds, and plants per embryos) in Hordeum vulgare × Hordeum bulbosum crosses. The individual and combined effects of three plant growth regulators (2,4-D, GA₃ and kinetin) on in vitro seed growth, embryo development and haploid production efficiency were tested in floret culture of the cross H. vulgare, cultivar Klages × H. bulbosum. All treatments, except kinetin alone, produced larger seeds and more embryos/100 seeds than the control (no plant growth regulator). 2,4-D alone was superior to GA₃ alone in haploid production efficiency (70.6 vs. 51.5) as measured by the number of plants regenerated/100 florets pollinated. Although kinetin +2,4-D+GA₃ produced the largest seeds and embryos, no advantage over 2,4-D alone was observed in haploid production efficiency. 2,4-D alone or kinetin +2,4-D are recommended for the purpose of barley haploid production in floret culture using the bulbosum method.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - GA₃ gibberellic acid     

Anther culture in Helianthus annuus L., influence of genotype and culture conditions on embryo induction and plant regeneration

Summary Production of microspore-derived embryos from cultured anthers is now a well established technique for the isolation of homozygous lines in many crop plants. We describe here a culture method for embryo induction and plant regeneration from anthers of four sunflower genotypes. For preliminary experiments, anthers of uninucleate microspores were cultured on four types of basal media viz., Murashige and Skoog's MS, Gamborg's B5, Nitsch and Nitsch, and White's W, supplemented with 1.0 mg/l 2,4 dichlorophenoxy acetic acid and 0.5 mg/l 6-benzylaminopurine and 40 g/l sucrose. MS basal medium, being more responsive for embryo induction, was used for further experimentation. To optimise the culture requirement MS basal medium was supplemented with 0.2–2.0 mg/l 2,4 dichlorophenoxy acetic acid and 0.5 and 1.0 mg/l 6-benzylaminopurine. The effect of cold pretreatment, hormone regime and sucrose concentration were tested for embryogenic efficiency. Genotype had a significant effect on the capacity of embryo induction. Addition of silver nitrate (2.5 mg/l), an ethylene inhibitor, stimulated embryo germination. Plantlets were obtained (10–15%) from embryos of only one genotype.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4 dichlorophenoxy acetic acid - NAA -naphthalene acetic acid - IAA indole-3-aceticacid - BAP 6-benzylaminopurine - KN Kinetin - ABA abscisic acid - GA₃ gibberellic acid     

Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from immature embryos of saw palmetto,an important landscape and medicinal plant

Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from immature zygotic embryos was achieved for saw palmetto (Serenoa repens (Bartr.) Small). Embryos, isolated from immature fruit of native-grown plants, were cultured on Murashige and Skoog medium plus 0.15% (w/v) activated charcoal and supplemented with 452 M 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 14.7 M N⁶-(2-isopentenyl)adenine (2iP). Clusters of somatic embryos developed from all immature zygotic embryos 5 weeks after culture initiation. After 12 weeks, explants were transferred to the same medium with the amount of 2,4-D reduced to 90.4 M which resulted in somatic embryo proliferation. Somatic embryos were then transferred to the basal medium containing 0.9, 9 M thidiazuron (TDZ), or no growth regulator for conversion into plantlets. The 9 M TDZ treatment was ineffective for plant regeneration. However, 12% of the embryos subcultured on 0.9 M TDZ were able to produce complete plantlets. Shoot production was obtained from 35% of the embryos subcultured in the absence of growth regulators. Rooting (100%) was achieved when these shoots were transferred onto medium containing 22.2 M -naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA).     

Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in cotyledonary explant cultures of Chinese cabbage

Cotyledonary explants of Chinese cabbage were cultured on Murashige and Skoog's medium supplemented with various concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Up to 20% of the cotyledonary explants produced somatic embryos with or without intervening callus production. Explants became more competent as the age of the source seedlings increased up to 8 days, but cotyledonary explants from 10-day-old seedlings were not responsive. Upon transfer to MS basal medium most of the somatic embryos developed into plantlets. Plantlets were transplanted to potting soil and grown to maturity in a phytotron. Among three cultivars used, only cotyledonary explants of Top Salad were capable of producing somatic embryos.Abbreviations 2,4-d 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - MS Murashige & Skoog (1962)     

Phosphinothricin stimulates somatic embryogenesis in grape (Vitis sp. L.)

The effect of phosphinothricin concentration on embryo production from an embryogenic callus of Chancellor (Vitis L. complex interspecific hybrid) was tested. Embryogenic callus was cultured on medium supplemented with nine phosphinothricin concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 5, and 10 mg/l). The highest number of embryos per plate was observed at 0.5 mg/l phosphinothricin. The use of phosphinothricin to stimulate embryo production did not affect embryo germination and plantlet formation. Three germination techniques were compared. Embryo dehydration or growth on Transfergelsolidified medium gave higher germination rates than chilling treatments. Most germinated somatic embryos produced secondary embryos from the hypocotyl after a few weeks of culture. Regardless of the germination technique, the plantlet conversion rate was very low.Abbreviations AC activated charcoal - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - BA 6-benzylaminopurine - MS Murashige and Skoog (1962) basal medium - NN Nitsch and Nitsch (1969) medium - PPT phosphinothricin     

Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in wild cotton (Gossypium klotzschianum)

A simple and efficient method for high frequency somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from hypocotyl-derived cultures and suspension cultures of Gossypium klotzschianum Anderss, a wild, diploid species of cotton is described here. Embryogenic cultures were induced from hypocotyl sections on MSB medium with 0.9 M 2,4-D and 2.32 M kinetin. MSB medium containing 0.045 M 2,4-D, 0.93 M kinetin, 2.46 M IBA promoted embryogenic culture proliferation and embryo development. Suspension cultures with 0.23 M 2,4-D and 0.93 M kinetin also produced many embryos. Somatic embryos cultured on MSB medium with PGRs produced secondary embryos, and embryos developed into normal plantlets on PGR-free MSB medium. Regenerated plantlets were transferred onto the quarter-strength MSB medium with 0.5% active charcoal to avoid recallusing. Hypocotyls were better than cotyledons for culture induction and plant regeneration. 2,4-D and kinetin were essential for culture induction and maintenance.     

High frequency somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in zygotic embryo cultures of Japanese honeysuckle

Japanese honeysuckle plant (Lonicera japonica Thunb.) is rich in iridoid secologanin and is a potentially useful model for the study of secologanin biosynthesis. Culture conditions for high frequency plant regeneration via somatic embryogenesis from zygotic embryo cultures and zygotic embryo-derived embryogenic cell suspension cultures of this species are described. Mature zygotic embryos formed embryogenic calluses at a frequency of 46.7% when cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 4.52 M 2,4-dichloro-phenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Cell suspension cultures were established with embryogenic calluses using liquid MS medium with 4.52 M 2,4-D. Upon plating onto MS basal medium, embryogenic cell suspension cultures produced numerous somatic embryos, which subsequently developed into plantlets at a frequency of 68%. Regenerated plantlets were transplanted to potting soil and grown to maturity in a greenhouse.     

Influence of media and growth regulators on somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration for production of primary triticales

Basal media and plant growth regulators were tested for the promotion of somatic embryogenesis from immature wheat-rye hybrid embryos. Influence of growth regulators and chilling on plant regeneration were tested on two media. A medium containing four amino acids-glutamine, arginine, glycine and aspartic acid-as the nitrogen source, promoted the production of, on average, twice as much embryogenic callus as the other media, and somatic embryos developed well. The growth regulator dicamba was significantly better than 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in promoting somatic embryogenesis and subsequent plant regeneration. Germination of somatic embryos on both regeneration media was enhanced by cold treatment. Supplementing 190-2 plant regeneration medium with a combination of -naphthaleneacetic acid + benzyladenine, indole-3-acetic acid + kinetin or indole-3-acetic acid + zeatin resulted in equally high germination rates.Abbreviations 190-2 Plant regeneration medium of Chuang & Jia - 2,4-d 2,4d Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - Dicamba 3,6-Dichloro-o-anisic acid - AA Amino acid medium of Müller & Grafe - IAA Indole-3-acetic acid - BA Benzyladenine - NAA -Naphthaleneacetic acid     

In vitro somatic embryogenesis from cell suspension cultures of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp]

We report, an efficient protocol for plantlet regeneration from the cell suspension cultures of cowpea through somatic embryogenesis. Primary leaf-derived, embryogenic calli initiated in MMS [MS salts (Murashige and Skoog 1962) with B5 (Gamborg et al. 1968) vitamins] medium containing 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), casein hydrolysate (CH), and l-Glutamic acid-5-amide (Gln). Fast-growing embryogenic cell suspensions were established in 0.5 mg l^–1 2,4-D, which resulted in the highest recovery of early stages of somatic embryos in liquid MMS medium. Embryo development was asynchronous and strongly influenced by the 2,4-D concentration. Mature monocotyledonary-stage somatic embryos were induced in liquid B5 medium containing 0.1 mg l^–1 2,4-D, 20 mg l^–1 l-Proline (Pro), 5 M Abscisic acid (ABA), and 2% mannitol. B5 medium was found superior for the maturation of somatic embryos compared to MS and MMS media. The importance of duration (5 d) for effective maturation of somatic embryos is demonstrated. A reduction in the 2,4-D level in suspensions increased the somatic embryo induction and maturation with decreased abnormalities. Sucrose was found to be the best carbon source for callus induction while mannitol for embryo maturation and maltose for embryo germination. Extension of hypocotyls and complete development of plantlet was achieved in half-strength B5 medium supplemented with 3% maltose, 2500 mg l^–1 potassium nitrate, and 0.05 mg l^–1 thidiazuron (TDZ) with 32% regeneration frequency. Field-established plants were morphologically normal and fertile. This regeneration protocol assures a high frequency of embryo induction, maturation, and plantlet conversion.     

Influence of growth regulators on somatic embryogenesis,plantlet regeneration,and post-transplant survival of Echinochloa frumentacea

After placement on Murashige and Skoog's basal medium supplemented with 3–5 mg/l 2,4-D, immature inflorescence expiants of Echinochloa frumentacea gave rise to three distinct types of callus: a) loosely arranged and soft; b) compact and translucent; c) compact, sticky and mucilaginous. Somatic embryo formation occurred in type b callus in about 18–24 d. Callus types a and c did not produce somatic embryos. The highest percentage of cultures exhibiting somatic embryogenesis occurred on the medium containing 5 mg/l 2,4-D and 0.5 mg/l kinetin. Somatic embryos also formed directly on the inflorescence (without intervening callus formation) in about 15% of the expiants placed on this medium. The addition of paclobutrazol or uniconazole (0.25 or 1 mg/l) to the medium had no influence on the percentage of cultures exhibiting direct somatic embryogenesis, but paclobutrazol slightly increased the mean number of somatic embryos per culture. Many of the callus-derived somatic embryos germinated when subcultured on basal MS medium supplemented with kinetin. Addition of paclobutrazol or uniconazole to the culture medium at 0.25 or 1 mg/l decreased somatic embryo germination and shoot elongation but increased root length and leaf width. Both paclobutrazol and uniconazole increased survival of the plantlets following transplanting to soil. Increased post-transplant survival was accompanied by reduced water loss from plantlets produced on culture media containing triazoles.     

Apical proliferation of embryogenic tissue of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill]

Somatic embryos and embryogenic tissues were initiated from immature zygotic embryos of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill cv. Fayette]. Zygotic embryos were placed on a medium containing 40 mg/l of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 6% sucrose. Somatic embryos were first seen 4 weeks after cultures were initiated. Following transfer, secondary somatic embryos proliferated directly from the apical or terminal portions of the older primary somatic embryos. Single somatic embryos or clusters of embryos were seen growing directly from the top of older somatic embryos. Light microscopy revealed that these embryos were of surface or subsurface origin. The apical soybean somatic embryo tissue may represent cotyledonary tissue (which has been shown to be most responsive) at a very young and manipulatable state.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - NAA naphthaleneacetic acid Salaries and research support were provided by state and federal funds appropriated to OARDC-OSU. Journal Article No. 131-87     

Genotype,plant, bud size and media factors affecting anther culture of cauliflowers (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis)

Summary Eleven F₁ hybrid cultivars of cauliflower, representing a range of maturity types, were examined for their responsiveness to anther culture. Embryos were produced from each of the cultivars tested, and the mean embryo yield varied from 82.2 embryos per 100 anthers cultured for cv Dova to 0.6 embryos for cv Serrano. Variation between genotypes and between plants within a genotype was significant, both in terms of embryo yield and percentage responsive anthers. Autumn and winter maturing cauliflowers were generally more responsive than summer types. Embryo yields were enhanced by culturing anthers on solid rather than on liquid media. An increase in concentration of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) from 0.1 to 0.3 mg/l also increased embryo yield. Embryo yield was doubled when anthers were cultured on solid media containing 0.3 mg/l 2,4-D compared to liquid media containing 0.1 mg/l 2,4-D. Although bud size alone did not have a significant effect on embryo production, genotype x bud size and plant x bud size (within genotype) interactions were significant. Estimation of the variance components demonstrated that, apart from the residual plate-to-plate variation, variation between plants was the largest source of variation, accounting for approximately 30% of total variance. Plant x bud size (within genotype) interaction accounted for 18% of total variance and genotypic differences for approximately 8%.     

Evolution of endogenous hormone concentration in embryogenic cultures of carrot during early expression of somatic embryogenesis

Embryogenic callus and suspension cultures of carrot (Daucus carota L., cv. Nantaise), growing on/in medium including 1 mg/l 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D), were transferred to medium with or without this plant growth regulator, to impair or induce, respectively, further development of somatic embryos. The endogenous hormone levels of the cultures were determined over 7 days by means of radio-immunoassay, to characterize their evolution in the initial stages of embryo development. In general, levels of indoleacetic acid (IAA) and abscisic acid (ABA) showed only short-lived differences among treatments during this time in both types of tissue analyzed (i.e., a peak of IAA in callus cultures in the absence of 2,4-D, 48 h after medium change, and higher ABA contents 144 h after subculture of suspension cultures in the presence of 2,4-D). Gibberellins (1, 3 and 20) were detected only in suspension cultures devoid of 2,4-D, starting 24 h after subculture. Concerning the evaluated cytokinins—zeatin/zeatin riboside and N⁶(²-isopentenyl) adenine/N⁶(²-isopentenyl) adenosine—the most remarkable observation is that high levels of the former generally coincided with low concentrations of the latter, indicating a shift from precursor to the active form, and vice versa.     

A comparison of callus induction and plant regeneration from different embryo explants of triticale (x Triticosecale wittmack)

Immature, mature and endosperm-supported mature embryos of six triticale cultivars (BDMT-98-8S, Melez-2001, Mikham-2002, Presto, Tacettin Bey and Tatlicak-97) were cultured in vitro to compare the levels of callus induction and plant regeneration. Immature embryos, 15-18 days after anthesis, were aseptically excised and placed with the scutellum upwards on a callus culture medium consisting of Murashige and Skoog (MS) mineral salts supplemented with 2 mg l(-1) 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Mature embryos were aseptically excised from the imbibed seeds and placed scutellum up on MS medium supplement with 2 mg l(-1) 2,4-D. Endosperm-supported mature embryos were moved slightly in the imbibed mature seeds. The seeds with moved embryos were placed furrow downwards in dishes containing 8 mg l(-1) 2,4-D for callus induction. The developed calli and regenerated plants were maintained on hormone-free MS medium. Variability among the genotypes was observed for all the types of embryo culture. Immature embryos from "Presto" and endosperm-supported mature embryos from "Mikham 2002" had excellent regeneration capacities (92.0% and 97.3%, respectively) and the highest number of plants regenerated growing in soil (9 and 13, respectively). A comparison of the responses of the three explants used indicated that the endosperm-supported mature embryo was the most useful explant for plant regeneration in triticale.     

Control of hyperhydricity of mango somatic embryos

Hyperhydricity of immature somatic embryos has been a limiting factor for the development of highly embryogenic suspension cultures of many important mango cultivars. Reversion of hyperhydricity was achieved in two ways: 1) heart-stage somatic embryos (2–3 mm length) were partially dehydrated under controlled conditions at high relative humidity (RH) for 24–48 h and 2) the gelling agent (Gel-Gro) concentration of the plant growth medium was increased from 2.0 to 6.0 g l^-1. Partially dehydrated immature somatic embryos were normal in appearance. Somatic embryos that were partially dehydrated germinated precociously when cultured on maturation medium. Although abscisic acid (ABA) did not reverse hyperhydricity of primary somatic embryos, ABA did stimulate the reversal of this abnormal pattern of development among secondary embryos. ABA (500 M) inhibited precocious germination and permitted somatic embryo maturation. Partially dehydrated, immature somatic embryos (4–7 mm long) remained viable for up to 32 days in the absence of maturation medium under high RH.Abbreviations 2,4-d 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - ABA abscisic acid - BA 6-benzyladenine - RH relative humidity     

Effects of auxin concentration on induction and growth of embryogenic callus from young inflorescence explants of Old World bluestem (Bothriochloa spp.) and bermuda (Cynodon spp.) grasses

Objectives of this research were to test the effects of plant genotypes and auxin 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) medium concentrations on embryogenic (E) callus production of two grass species. Two Old World bluestem,Bothriochloa ischaemum, accessions (A-8793 and A-8911c) and three bermudagrass,Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., accessions (A-10978b, A12164, and Brazos) supplied the explant material. Immature inflorescences 9 mm in length were placed on modified Murashige-Skoog (MS) agar medium containing 0, 1, 3, or 5 mg L^-1 of 2,4-D. Explants of all genotypes produced callus by the end of a 4-week dark incubation period at 25°C. When subcultured onto fresh media and maintained at 25°C with a 16 hr photoperiod, calli became embryogenic within 8 weeks of inoculation. Three mg L^-1 of 2,4-D in the media maximized E callus production in both bluestem genotypes and in A-10978b and A-12164 bermudagrass genotypes. Maximum E callus production from Brazos bermudagrass resulted from the 1 mg L^-1 treatment. Somatic embryos developed after subculture under light. Embryos showed scutellum-like structures and coleoptile-coleorhiza bipolar organization. Plantlets were regenerated from all genotypes except Brazos, whose embryoids failed to germinate. All callus from Brazos eventually senesced. Light and scanning electron microscopy confirmed regeneration through somatic embryogenesis.     

A novel type of somatic embryogenesis in Coffea arabica

A novel type of somatic embryogenesis characterized by an efficient and highly synchronized embryo formation was observed in embryogenic callus of Coffea arabica initiated on Murashige and Skoog medium containing kinetin (4 mg/l) and 2,4-D (1 mg/l). It occurs in suspension and goes along with the suppression of High Frequency Somatic Embryo Induction (HFSE). This is achieved by favoring during cultivation senescence-or necrosis-like processes which apparently do not impair the competence for embryogenesis. Since the resulting embryos germinate at a rate of 94.5 % without the need of a maturation step, we propose the term Self-Controlled Somatic Embryogenesis (SCSE).In addition, HFSE was optimized using half-strength liquid medium with 0.1 mg/l kinetin and 0.25 mg/l 2,4-D for proliferation of embryonic tissue, and 2.6 mg/l ABA for maturation of embryos. Yields as well as germination rates of HFSE embryos were markedly lower as compared to SCSE.Abbreviations ABA abscisic acid - BAP 6-benzylaminopurine - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxy-acetic acid - NAA 1-naphthaleneacetic acid - HFSE high frequency somatic embryo induction - LFSE low frequency somatic embryo induction - SCSE self-controlled somatic embryogenesis     

Regulation of somatic embryogenesis in celery cell suspensions

Embryogenic suspension cultures of celery (Apium graveolens L.) were established from petiole and leaf callus. Suspensions were routinely subcultured in a maintenance medium (with 2.3 M 2,4-D and 0.88 M BA). Somatic embryogenesis occurred in this medium, but was considerably improved in a regeneration medium (2.3 M kinetin, without 2,4-D). Cultures thus maintained, contained embryogenic clumps, aggregated somatic embryos, and few free-floating singular somatic embryos. Addition of mannitol (3–4% w/v) prevented cell lysis, greatly increased the number of singular somatic embryos, improved their normal differentiation, and accelerated torpedo embryo development. Experiments to reveal the nature of the mannitol effect demonstrated that the decreased osmotic potential was an important factor, but not the only one: iso-molar solutions of sucrose alone were not as effective. The mannitol effect could be manifested after a short (2–3 days) exposure period, suggesting a trigger (induction) mechanism. Several pathways of somatic embryogenesis in celery and its regulation by subculturing, with the addition of mannitol, are outlined. Cultures thus maintained resulted in a high rate of normal somatic embryogenesis and production of normal transplantable celery plants.