Somatic embryogenesis of japanese conifers

Abstract

The present work focused on improving somatic embryogenesis of the Japanese conifer species by studying the factors affecting culture condition. They include Chamaecyparis obtusa Sieb. et Zucc., Chamaecyparis picifera Sieb. et Zucc., Cryptomeria japonica D. Don, Pirns densiflora Sieb. et Zucc. and Pinus thunbergii Pari. When the zygotic embryos in the explants were either proembryos or early embryos, initiation of somatic embryogenesis was successful. The medium significantly affected induction success, the medium with auxin (3 or 5 or 10 uM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) and cytokinin(l or 3 uM 6-benzylaminopurine) being better than the medium with cytokinin alone. Maltose instead of sucrose was better for the maturation of the somatic embryos. Sawara cypress (Chamaecyparis picifera) plantlets regenerated from somatic embryo and grown in a greenhouse were planted out in the field to compare with the control seedlings. Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from shoots cultures of Hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) in vitro was also successful.