Regeneration of plantlets through organogenesis from mature embryos of jack pine

A protocol is described for the production of plantlets from mature excised embryos of jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.), a conifer widely distributed in temperate North America. Shoot buds were induced on von Arnold and Erickson's or Bornman's MCM salts with 10 M cytokinin for 2 weeks, using Phytagar^® for gelling the medium. Bud development and shoot elongation required frequent subculture on MCM medium with activated charcoal and reduced inorganic nitrogen during elongation. Shoots were rooted in peat-perlite with -naphthaleneacetic acid. The protocol produces about six plantlets per embryo.