Plant Regeneration of a Spring Vegetable-Asparagus officinalis L. Through Somatic Embryogenesis

A plant regeneration protocol was established from hypocotyl explants of in vitro grown seedlings of Asparagus officinalis and in vitro-proliferated shoots, respectively through either somatic embryogenesis or embryogenic callus. Types of auxins and cytokinins play an important role for producing somatic embryos. Friable calli with somatic embryos developed well in MS medium supplemented with 2.0–4.0 μM 6benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 1.0–4.0 μM 2, 4dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D), 1naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) or indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). The highest 96.3% embryogenic calli and maximum number of 60.0 somatic embryos formation were obtained from each explant when the MS medium was fortified with 4.0 μM BAP and 2.0 μM 2, 4-D. The best embryo germination occurred in 1.0 μM BAP supplemented ½ strength MS medium. The highest 95.2% of shoot proliferation was observed in embryogenic calli in MS medium containing 2.0 μM BAP and 1.0 μM IBA or NAA. In vitro-grown shoots were rooted in ½ strength MS medium with 0.5–4.0 μM IBA. Regenerants were transferred to vermicompost and successfully established under an ex vitro environment in garden soil with 75.0% survival rate.