Plant regeneration from alginate-encapsulated somatic embryos of Dalbergia sissoo Roxb

A method has been developed for plant regeneration by encapsulation of somatic embryos obtained from callus cultures derived from semi-mature cotyledon explants of Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. (family Fabaceae). Embryogenic callus was developed from cotyledon pieces on Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium supplemented with 9.04 μM 2,4dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 0.46 μM kinetin. The somatic embryos were induced from embryogenic callus on hormone free 1⁄2-MS medium with 2% sucrose. Cotyledonary stage somatic embryos were encapsulated using sodium alginate (2.5%) and calcium chloride (75 mM) as gelling matrix. The highest frequency (43.3%) for conversion of encapsulated somatic embryos into plantlets was achieved on 1⁄2-MS medium with 2% sucrose. Plantlets with well developed shoots and roots were established in pots containing autoclaved mixture of peat moss and soil. Under ex vitro conditions, the conversion of encapsulated somatic embryos into plantlets was also achieved when these were directly sown in autoclaved peat moss moistened with 1⁄2-MS0 medium.