Somatic embryogenic tissue establishment from mature Pinus Nigra Arn. ssp Salzmannii embryos

Somatic embryogenesis from mature zygotic embryos of salgareno pine (Pinus nigra Arn. ssp. salzmannii) was induced after 2 wk of culture in L-1 medium [Murashige and Skoog mineral solution with 10.7 mu M naphthalenearcetic acid (NAA) and 8.8 mu M 6-benzyladenine (BA)] or L-2 medium [Gupta and Durzan mineral solution (DCR)] supplemented with the phytohormone combination as above. Four different combinations of growth regulators. NAA (2.6-10.7 mu M) and BA (6.6-8.8 mu M), were tried for subsequent passage. The best percentage of embryo induction and manifestation was obtained on DCR medium with 2.6 mu M NAA and 6.6-8.8 mu M BA. Transfer of isolated somatic embroys from the basal media to L-3 medium (Quoirin and Le Poivre modified mineral solution without hormones anti supplemented with 0.3% activated charcoal), facilitated random embryo maturation and some development into plantlets.nul