Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Govind Ballab Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar-263 145, District: Udham Singli Nagar, Uttranchal e-mail: ranjanshrivastavd2001@rediffmail.com; rsapli@gbpuat.ernet.in
The rale of multiplication of gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii Bolus ex Hooker f.) through division is slow and season dependent. Somatic embryogenesis constitutes a powerful tool not only for rapid clonal propagation but for other biotechnological applications as well. The present investigation was carried out to study the response of explants to callus induction and somatic embryogenesis. Somatic embryogenesis has been achieved from callus cultures derived from leaf disc explants of gerbera cv. Alsmeera. Callus cultures were obtained from leaf disc pieces and petioles (1–2 cm) on MS medium supplemented with varied combinations and concentrations of auxins and cytokinins. High frequency (92.78%) for callus induction was achieved from leaf explant obtained on MS medium supplemented with BAP (1 mg/1) and 2, 4-D (2.5 mg/l). Maximum percentage response for somatic embryos induction (64.56%) from callus clumps was obtained on MS medium amended with BAP (0.5 mg/1) and NAA (1 mg/1). Histological studies confirmed the presence of somatic embryos in different developmental stages viz., globular and heart shaped.
Gerbera, callus, somatic embryos, histology
