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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from pistil transverse thin cell layers of lemon (Citrus limon)

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description

Callus induction, somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration were obtained in Citrus limon (L.) Burm. (cv. Femminello) from cultures of pistil transverse thin cell layer explants [(t)TCLs]. Explants were cultured on two different media, based on Murashige and Skoog salts and vitamins, supplemented with 500 mg l-1 malt extract (MSI), or 500 mg l-1 malt extract and 13.3 ¼M 6-benzylaminopurine (MSII). Sucrose (146 mM) was used as carbon source. Somatic embryos appeared 3 months after culture initiation from stigma and style (t)TCLs; they were observed at the surface of the (t)TCL-derived callus. Although ovary (t)TCLs showed the highest callus formation, they never differentiated somatic embryos. Percentages of embryo formation from (t)TCLs incubated on MSI (13% and 2% for stigma and style, respectively) were lower than those from (t)TCLs incubated on MSII (36% and 7% for stigma and style, respectively). The embryogenic response of stigma (t)TCLs was usually higher than that of style (t)TCLs. After about 3 months, somatic embryos developed into plantlets at high frequencies (57% and 62% for stigma- and style-derived somatic embryos, respectively). Keywords: Citrus limon; plant regeneration; somatic embryogenesis; thin cell layer