Effect of Genotype and Explant on Somatic Embryogenesis and Acclimatization of Acanthopanax senticosus

Callus induction and embryogenesis were studied in three different genotypes of Acanthopanax senticosus, to develop a protocol for somatic embryogenesis and acclimatization. Young leaf, stem, node, petiole, peduncle, flower and root explants were collected from 3-year old trees of A. senticosus accessions (Korea, Russia and Japan). Callus was obtained from all cultured explants but showed the higher rate of callus formation in flower cultured. For the three A. senticosus accessions, callus was well formd on MS media containing 2mg/ l of 2,4-D and 2mg/ l of TDZ, 4mg/ l of 2,4-D and 1mg/ l of TDZ than other treatments. For three A. senticosus accessions, when callus transferred to MS medium with 2,4-D, embryogenic cell formed. For A. senticosus accessions Korea, embryogenic cells were obtained on callus induced from petiole, stem, node and root explants, and induction rate was lower than 3%. 200mg of embryogenic callus was transferred to MS free liquid medium and somatic embryos of heart stage were obtained after 45days of culture. When somatic embryo of germination stage were transferred to solid medium, most of the embryos were regenerated into plantlets on 1/4 MS medium. Normal plants with both shoots and roots were transferred to greenhouse soil and were successfully acclimatized.