Influence of exogenous polyamines on direct somatic embryogenesis of Scilla indica and Urginea indica: A comparative study

The effect of polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, and spermine) was examined for somatic embryogenesis of two bulbus medicinal plants Scilla indica and Urginea indica Among the three polyamines tested, Putrescine at low level (0.40 mg l⁻¹) promoted somatic embryogenesis (3.06±0.04) and at low level of Spermine (0.25 mg l⁻¹) promoted shoot growth (19.15±0.17 mm.) but the growth is not significant in Scilla comparing with the control on day 30. On the other hand low level of Putrescine (0.25 mg l⁻¹) promoted shoot growth significantly (14.40±1.48 mm.) in Urginia after 30 days. Spermidine induced S3 stage whereas spermine induced S2 stage in Scilla. Callusing was found in almost all the treatments in Urginea but not detected in Scilla. In both the cases root development is insignificant.