High Frequency Somatic Embryogenesis and Plantlet Regeneration Via Somatic Embryos in Safflower (Carthamus Tinctorius L.)

Talat, K^*. and Anwar, S. Y.

Department of Genetics, Osmania University, Hyderabad, 500 007 A.P. INDIA. Corresponding Author e.mail: talatkh@yahoo.co.in

ABSTRACT: Present study describes in detail induction of somatic embryogenesis and plantlet regeneration through somatic embryos in different genotypes of safflower.  Cotyledons, hypocotyls and root explants of ten different genotypes of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L) were inoculated on to two different media MS and B5 mainly differing in their inorganic and organic constituents and plant growth regulators to study their influence on the induction of somatic embryogenesis  and plantlet regeneration. Among the two different media, B5 medium supplemented with 2,4,5- Trichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4,5-T) showed relatively low frequency of somatic embryogenesis while  Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with same auxin  favored maximum frequency of somatic embryogenesis, instead of  2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D). While addition of cytokinin inhibited embryogenesis. Role of amino acids were also evaluated, among the four amino acids  viz: Proline, Glutamine, Asparagine  and Serine, Proline and Glutamine at lower concentration favored embryogenesis. Morphogenesis  of somatic embryos was observed about a week after transfer on to the MS medium containing 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and a-napthalene acetic acid (NAA). Elongated shoots were transferred on to the medium containing indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) for rooting. Complete plantlets thus obtained were successfully hardened and grown to maturity.

KEYWORDS: Somatic embryos: plantlet regeneration:  Carthamus tinctorius: cotyledons, hypocotyl

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