Arabidopsis thaliana L. Seeds are A novel source of somatic embryos

Somatic embryogenesis is a valuable tool for investigating the totipotency of plant cells. A simple and efficient protocol for inducing somatic embryogenesis from seeds of Arabidopsis thaliana were established. Surface sterilized seeds were placed on agar-solidified Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium free from growth regulators. Callus initiation began 7 days after seeds culture and became visible with the naked eye within 10-14 days. It was friable and yellowish white in color. Within 20 days, callus was transferred to Gamborg's B5 medium containing 1.0 mgL-1 2, 4-D (2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) and 0.05 mgL⁻¹ Kin for multiplication. The results indicated that somatic embryos had been recorded only in B5 medium supplemented with 0.4 mgL⁻¹ TDZ (N-phenyl-N'-1,2, 3-thidiazol-5-ylurea) and it was the best one. Through our observation, different stages of somatic embryos have been found. The results revealed that the continuous transfer of small masses containing several embryos at different stages to the same induction medium subsequently formed a large cluster of shoots, which were rooted in MS medium free from growth regulators and MS hormone-free medium with 0.2activated charcoal. The percentages of rooting were 63% and 51% respectively. This study proved that Arabidopsis thaliana seeds are a novel source for somatic embryos.