Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in Eucalyptus tereticornis Sm.

Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration were obtained from cultured mature zygotic embryos of Eucalyptus tereticornis Sm. through callus. MS and B5 basal media containing different concentrations of NAA and 2,4-D were evaluated for callus induction and different BAP concentrations for somatic embryogenesis. The effect of different light conditions on somatic embryogenesis was also studied. Callus induction and somatic embryogenesis was found to be highest on MS medium compared to B5 medium. Highest frequency of friable callus was obtained on MS medium supplemented with 10.74 mu M NAA. When the callus was transferred separately to the respective media on which callus induction occurred, containing various concentrations of BAP, somatic embryos developed after 1-2 weeks with highest frequency (54%) in MS medium containing 2.22 mu M BAP. The embryos were germinated on MS basal medium. The rooted plants were successfully transferred to polybags after hardening.