Plantlet regeneration and somaclonal variation in Anthurium cv. Sultan through embryogenesis

Calli of anthurium cv. Sultan were cultured on liquid or solid MMS (modified Murashige and Skoog) medium. The solid medium was supplemented with 1.0-4.0 mg/l 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) incombination with 0.5 and 1.0 mg/l kinetin or 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 mg/l TDZ (thidiazuron) with 0.5 and 1.0 mg/l BA (N6-benzyladenine) for 16 weeks. The result showed that a cluster of embryogenic callus (1.3-1.5 cm)was formed on medium with 2.0 mg/l 2,4-D and 0.5 mg/l kinetin (90%) and developed into shoot and shoot with root (83.3% and 100%, respectively). The solid medium with 1.0 mg/l TDZ and 1.0 mg/l BA gave66.67% embryogenic callus formation after culturing for 12 months. Liquid medium supplemented with 3.0 mg/l 2,4-D and 0.5 mg/l BA gave the best fresh weight of embryogenic callus (3.33 g). Regenerants obtainedfrom BA and TDZ containing solid medium produced abnormal lanceolate leaves. Isozyme markers revealed different pattern of esterase activity in normal and abnormal leaves