Regeneration of somatic embryos and roots from quince leaves cultured on media with different macroelement composition

The effects of different macroelement combinations on somatic embryogenesis of quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) were tested. Leaves were excised from shoot cultures of quince clones and cultured on macroelement combinations of 8 different growth media. Callus production varied depending on the medium and the clone combinations. The influence of genotype and macronutrient combination on somatic embryo and root regeneration was also observed. Clone BA 29 showed the highest embryogenic properties and Murashige and Skoog-based medium appeared to be the most favourable for somatic embryo formation. Root regeneration was higher on Woody Plant Medium and Schenck and Hildebrandt-based media. Interactive effects between genotypes and macroelement combinations were also detected both for embryo and root formation. In all treatments, somatic embryos underwent early developmental arrest and failed to convert into plants. Differences in embryo and root regeneration observed among macroelement combinations may be ascribable to different levels of medium nitrogen and probably to the ratio between nitrate and ammonium. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.