Somatic embryogenesis from zygotic embryos of Schisandra chinensis

We describe the multi-step regeneration system of medicinal plant Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. The seeds were pre-treated with 0.005 mu M thidiazuron. Subsequently the zygotic embryos of the early heart stage were cultured on medium with 50 mu M of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and after three weeks the embryogenic calli were transferred to a medium with 10 mu M of 2,4-D and 4 mu M of 6-benzyladenine and were sub-cultured at the 4-week intervals. Abscisic acid (30 mu M) and polyethyleneglycol (3 %) significantly influenced the synchronization of development of the somatic embryos (SEs) to the globular stage. The following culture on a medium without growth regulators resulted in full developed cotyledonary stage SEs. Indole-3-butyric acid (0.05 mu M) contributed to their rapid conversion to plantlets.