Somatic embryo germination and plant regeneration of three grapevine cvs: Effect of IAA, GA3 and embryo morphology

Plant regeneration was achieved using somatic embryos obtained from the Vitis vinifera cvs Sugraone, Crimson Seedless and Don Mariano. White somatic embryos, 1.5-3 mm in length, were cultured on embryo germination medium with or without IAA (10 μM) + GA3 (1 μM). Germinated embryos showed 5 different morphologies, (1) one cotyledon, (2) two cotyledons, (3) three cotyledons, (4) trumpet-like and (5) fused cotyledons before transfer to half strength MS medium to obtain plants. The conversion rate was higher when somatic embryos were germinated in culture medium with IAA and GA3. Embryo morphology also had an effect on plant regeneration, somatic embryos with developed cotyledons (one, two or three) showing a higher conversion rate (57.8-70.2 %) than those with abnormal or no cotyledons (36.2-36.3 %).