Embryogenic cell lines from somatic embryos of grape ( Vitis vinifera L.)

Abstract

Somatic embryo formation occurred on leaf callus of grape (Vitis vinifera cv. Koshusanjaku). An embryogenic callus was induced from somatic embryo clusters cultured on vitamin-, inositol- and glycine-free Nitsch and Nitsch (1969) medium supplemented with 1.0μM 2,4-D. This callus has retained a high embryogenic activity after repeated subculture on the same medium for over two years, and has produced numerous embryos after transfer to a hormone-free medium. The effect of cytokinin treatment on somatic embryogenesis from leaf callus was also examined. N-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N′-phenylurea (KT-30) and N-(1,2,3-thiadiazol-5-yl)-N′-phenylurea (TAG), both synthetic cytokinins, were found to be effective for the induction of somatic embryogenesis. When leaf callus was induced by these cytokinins combined with 2,4-D at either 5.0 or 10.0μM, somatic embryos were produced.