Germination and plantlet regeneration from encapsulated somatic embryos of mango (Mangifera indica L.)

Cotyledonary-stage somatic embryos (3-5 mm in length) originating from nucellar explants of Mangifera indica L. cv. Amrapali were encapsulated individually in 2% alginate gel. The encapsulated somatic embryos (ESEs) germinated successfully on 0.6% agar-gelled medium containing B5 macrosalts (half strength), Murashige and Skoog microsalts (full strength), 3% sucrose and 2.9 mu M gibberellic acid. The percentage of germination of ESEs was higher than that of naked somatic embryos of the same size on the same medium. The germinability of ESEs was increased (73.61+/-7.08%) when the medium was supplemented with full-strength B5 macrosalts. Of the germinating ESEs, 45.83+/-3.40% developed into plantlets. Abscisic acid at 0.004 and 0.02 mu M had no significant influence on germination and plantlet development, but caused a 3-week delay in germination. Well-developed plantlets regenerated from ESEs have been successfully established in soil.