INVITRO FLOWERING OF PLANTLETS REGENERATED FROM ZYGOTIC EMBRYODERIVED SOMATIC EMBRYOS OF GINSENG

Mature zygotic embryos dissected from ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) seeds were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing various concentrations of 2,4-D and kinetin. Somatic embryos were induced directly from cotyledonary tissue and from intervening callus. The frequency of somatic embryo induction was up to 55% of zygotic embryo explants. Upon transfer onto half-strength MS medium supplemented with 1 mg BA/liter and 1 mg GA3/liter, most somatic embryos developed into plantlets. More than 50% of the plantlets flowered after 4 weeks of culture, and some developed immature fruits in vitro. These results indicate that adult-hood of ginseng root explants is not a prerequisite for flowering of plantlets regenerated through somatic embryogenesis. Chemical names used: (2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid (2,4-D); N-(2-furanylmethyl)-1H-purin-6-amine(kinetin); N-(phenylmethyl)-1H-purin-6-amine (BA); gibberellic acid (GA3).