Somatic Embryogenesis and Plant Regeneration of Erica carnea L.

In this study,we investigated somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in Erica carnea with stem section as explant.The effects on adventitious bud differentiation from stem and embryogenic callus induction were carried on comparative analysis.Subsequently,we explored its somatic embryo germination,rooting and transplantation.Meanwhile,embryogenic callus from stem differentiation and somatic embryogenesis were also observed by semi-section with resin embedded.The results showed that the induction rate(88.7%) of embryogenic callus on the basal medium 1/2WPM was higher than those on other media.The induction rate of adventitious bud,the average differentiation coefficient and the average height of differentiation seedlings reached 90.6%,3.6 and 3.82cm,respectively.Somatic cells germinated on the 1/2WPM medium with 1.0mg·L-1 ZT and 0.3mg·L-1 IBA after maturation.Thereafter,germinated somatic embryos formed complete plantlets,and rooting rate reached 87.4% on 1/2WPM medium containing 0.2mg·L-1 NAA and 0.3mg·L-1 IBA.The plantlets from somatic embryos were transplanted onto the substrate with vermiculite and perlite(3:1,V/V),and survival rate reached 63.7%.Furthermore,globular embryos,heart-shaped embryos,torpedo embryos and cotyledon embryos were observed under a microscope.The somatic embryogenesis was occurred in two ways:direct somatic embryogenesis from outer cells of callus and indirect somatic embryogenesis from intercells of callus.