Micropropagation through Cotyledon Culture in Camellia japonica L. and C.sinensis L.

Abstract

Regeneration of plantlets from slices of cotyledons in Camellia japonica L. and C.sinensis L. has been accomplished. Differentiation originated from the surface of cotyledon without the mediation of callus formation. It was obvious from histological observations that adventitious embryos were formed directly at the surface of the swelled up part of the cotyledon. Adventitious embryos were formed always in the same way on the cotyledon slices independently of the presence or concentration of growth regulators. In C.japonica, adventitious embryos grew shoots and roots on the medium supplemented with GA3 (Gibberellin), and after several monthly subcultures many plantlets were established. Moreover these somatic embryos formed additional embryos on the hypocotyls with the subcultures and this phenomenon was perpetuated throughout the successive generations of embryos on the GA3 medium. In C.sinensis, adventitious embryos grew shoots and roots on the medium supplemented with 10.0 mg/l BA (N6-Benzylaminopurine) and 0.5 mg/l IBA (Indol-3-butyric acid), but not on the medium supplemented with GA3. It was considered that rapid mass clonal propagation through the culture of cotyledon slices could be obtained from one seed of a selected cross in the Camellia genus.