Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in Lilium longiflorum Thunb

Friable callus was obtained from styles and flower pedicels of Lilium longiflorum Snow Queen and the Oriental lily hybrid Star Gazer on Murashige and Skoog (MS) media containing either 2 mu M dicamba or 2 mu M picloram. Cell suspension cultures were established by suspending the callus of L. longiflorum Snow Queen in liquid medium containing 2 mu M dicamba. Through a purification process, a fine fast-growing cell suspension was obtained. This suspension was composed of a homogenous population of small dense cells, which tended to organise into embryo like structures (ELS). In liquid culture with the auxin dicamba, the ELS underwent continuous callus formation. When transferred to solidified hormone-free MS medium, the ELS germinated, forming complete plantlets. Histological investigation showed that in the ELS both shoot and root meristems were distinctly evident. It was concluded that the ELS obtained were in fact somatic embryos.