In vitro somatic embryogenesis from callus cultures of Cephaelis ipecacuanha

Callus was obtained from leaf explants of Cephaelis ipecacuanha on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l Kin, 4.0 mg/l 2,4-D and 3% (w/v) sucrose [Murashige, T., Skoog, F., 1962. Plant Physiol. 15, 437±497]. Plantlet regeneration through somatic embryogenesis was achieved on MS medium containing 2.5 mg/l Kin, 1.0 mg/l 2,4-D and 3% (w/v) sucrose. Maturation and germination of somatic embryos was achieved on MS basal salts supplemented with vitamins and 2% (w/v) sucrose without growth regulators. Histological studies con®rmed induction of somatic embryogenesis. Analysis of root tips of 100 somatic embryo derived plants revealed that all plants were morphologically normal and possessed the normal diploid chromosome number 2nˆ22. Somatic embryo derived plantlets were hardened in the greenhouse and eventually planted in the open ®eld. # 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.