EARLY SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS IN Araucaria angustifolia - INDUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF EMBRYONAL-SUSPENSOR MASS CULTURES 1

Zygotic embryos excised from immature female cones of Araucaria angustifolia were cultured to induce embryonal-suspensor masses. The conditions for the establishment and multiplication of embryogenic cultures and formation of early somatic embryos were investigated. Cultures consisted of embryogenic and filamentous cells, the latter similar to the suspensor cells. Higher induction rates of embryonal-suspensor cells were obtained with 2,4-D (45 μM), casein acid hydrolysate (500 mg.L -1 ), BAP and Kin (11 μM each), depending on the developmental stage of the explants. Repetitive cycles of cell division were achieved both by cell plating and suspension cultures in LP basal medium supplemented with 7 μM 2,4-D plus 2 μM BAP and Kinetin. The growth dynamic showed a 3.5 fold increase in packed cell volume within 30 days. The progression to proembryonal complex was observed when embryonal- suspensor masses were transferred to basal LP medium supplemented with 1% PEG 8.000 regardless of ABA presence. Somatic proembryos did not develop to cotyledonary stage in any of the maturation treatments used. Additional index terms: Araucaria, cell lines, embryonal-suspensor masses, growth dynamic, somatic embryogenesis, zygotic polyembryogenesis.

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