Induction of somatic embryos in cultures of Asparagus racemosus Willd: an endangered medicinally important plant

Abstract

Somatic embryos were induced by zygotic embryos germinating on callus induction medium (MS media with 1.54 mg L−1 2,4-D and 0.43 mg L−1 kinetin) in dark. Thereafter, the compact embryogenic callus differentiated up on MS media with 0.1 mg L−1 NAA and 0.5 mg L−1 kinetin supplemented with various concentrations of ancymidol. An addition of 0.75 mg L−1 ancymidol resulted in significant enhancement of somatic embryo formation and no malformed embryos were observed. Scanning electron micrographs and thin sections confirmed the structures as somatic embryos. Furthermore, these embryos were transferred to the same medium supplemented with glutamine, casein hydrolysate, and 3% sucrose for conversion into green shoots. These shoots could be multiplied in vitro using BAP-supplemented medium.