Somatic embryogenesis in liquid cultures of a tetraploid Alstroemeria

A simple and efficient procedure was developed for regeneration of a tetraploid cultivar of Alstroemeria (A. pelegrina x A. psittacina) via somatic embryogenesis in liquid cultures. Embryogenic callus induced from mature zygotic embryos, cultured on MS medium supplemented with 40 mu M NAA and 20 mu M kinetin, was used as inoculum for liquid cultures. Pre-culture of the callus on MS medium supplemented with 80 mu M NAA for two days was essential for cell proliferation in the liquid medium. Embryogenic cell aggregates, obtained by sieving through a 750 mu m nylon mesh, continued to proliferate in media containing 10 or 20 mu M NAA and 10 or 20 CIM kinetin. When transferred to a semi-solid half strength MS medium supplemented with casein hydrolysate, cell aggregates successfully differentiated into plantlets which later grew to maturity under greenhouse conditions.