Inhibitory Effects of p-Hydroxybenzyl Alcohol on Somatic Embryogenesis in Carrot Cell Cultures.

Abstract

Somatic embryogenesis in carrot (Daucus carota L.) is strongly inhibited by certain factors that accumulate in the medium of cultures with high embryogenic carrot cell density. We previously identified p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol as one of these inhibitory factors. In this study, we performed a detailed analysis of the effects of p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol on somatic embryogenesis. p-Hydroxybenzyl alcohol strongly inhibited the formation of somatic embryos by suppressing cell division. The inhibitory effect on the development of globular embryos was stronger than that on the development of heart-shaped and torpedo-shaped embryos. In contrast, p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol had no effect on the proliferation of both undifferentiated embryogenic cells or non-embryogenic cells. These results indicate that p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol inhibits the division of cells in a way that is specific to the early stage of somatic embryogenesis and that plays an important role in the formation of somatic embryos.