Regeneration of pineapple (Ananas comosus L.) plant through somatic embryogenesis

An efficient protocol for a complete plant regeneration by somatic embryogenesis was developed with Smooth Cayenne pineapple (Ananas comosus L.). Previous works showed that this species is responsive to somatic embryogenesis. In the present work the influence of components of culture medium in the induction, development and conversion of somatic embryos was investigate in order to establish a somatic embryogenesis protocol. Nodular callus (83.67%) was initiated from leaf explants of young plants on CIM3 medium. The highest frequency (37.6%) of embryogenic callus induction was obtained from 4-week-old calluses on EIM3 medium supplemented with 3.0 mg/l picloram. The highly organized callus induction and the development of somatic embryos were achieved after the transfer of callus clumps onto EIM3 medium containing 1.0 mg/l BAP + 0.1 mg/l NAA. The frequency of somatic embryo formation was of 39.5 +/- 2.45 embryos per callus. Up to 97% of the somatic embryos were converted into complete plants within 4 week on MSB medium with 1.0 mg/l BAP + 0.05 mg/l GA(3) + 500 mg/l glutamine. The continuation of the elongation of the shoots occurred on this medium). Shoots obtained from all the above methods were rooted in MSB medium with activated charcoal. Complete plantlets were transferred onto specially made polyethylene bags containing soil mixture and transferred to the greenhouse. Survival rate of the plantlets under ex vitro conditions was 98% and maximum average number of plantlets (80 +/- 0.6). The well-developed plantlets were transferred to an open field where the plants produced normal fruits.