SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS AND ISOZYMES IN ROSE SPECIES ROSA HYBRIDA L. CV. KING'S RANSOM

Abstract

Somatic embryogenesis was obtained from long term callus cultures of leaf bud in half strength MS medium supplemented with both 0.5 mgt1 2,4-0 +1.0 mgll NAA and 0.5 mgll 2,4-0. However, further development of the somatic embryos into plants was obtained only from the 0.5 mgll 2,4-0 supplemented cultures. Half strength MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mgll 2,4-0 + 1.0 mgll NAA + 0.5 mgll BAP yielded only non-embryogenic callus. Isozyme patterns were studied to distinguish between non-embryogenic and embryogenic calli and also between non-viable and viable somatic embryos in embryogenic calli. Specific isoperoxidases and isoesterases were found to be associated with the development of viable somatic embryos.