PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS FROM LEAF EXPLANTS OF ROSEMARY (ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS L. - LAMIACEAE)

Somatic embryogenesis was obtained from young leaf explants of rosemary with 2, 4-Dichlorophenoxyaceti acid (2, 4-D) in different concentrations (0.45, 2.25, 4.52, 6.75, 9.04 mu M) in combination with Benzyladenine (BA) using modified woody plant medium (WPM). The best frequencies of induction were obtained in a medium supplemented with 2.25 mu M 2, 4-D and 0.45 mu M BA, in which 100% of the calli produced somatic embryos. Subculture of primary somatic embryos on modified WPM without hormones gave rise to clusters with secondary somatic embryos and embryogenic calli. These clusters were sub-cultured every 4 weeks, and an average of 10% of the secondary somatic embryos developed into plantlets in each subculture. The same culture on WPM containing Abscisic acid (ABA) in different concentrations (3.48, 7.67, 11.35 mu M) also yielded de novo secondary embryos and whitish embryogenic calli.