Somatic Embryogenesis in Members of the Plumbaginaceae Ornamental Statice Limonium and Sea Thrift Armeria maritima

Abstract

Many members of the Plumbaginaceae are important flower crops wherein propagation is hindered by poor seed germination. Micropropagation via organogenesis is commercially practiced for certain Limonium species. However, somatic embryogenesis was not reported for members of the Plumbaginaceae until recently for L. bellidifolium Durmort. The induction of somatic embryogenesis from cotyledon explants in a modified Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium was examined in four other members of this family, Limonium aureum O. Kuntze, L. latifolium O. Kuntze, L. sinuatum Mill., and Armeria maritima Willd. Induction of embryogenic callus was achieved in all the species examined on MS medium supplemented with 4.5 μm 2,4-D and 88 or 118 mm sucrose. Species of the genus Limonium responded better than A. maritima Willd. in somatic embryo induction and maturation. Somatic embryos of L. aureum O. Kuntze matured readily on MS medium supplemented with 0.93 μm kinetin and 88 mm mannitol. Chemical name used: 2,4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D).