Plant Regeneration of Soybean Cultivars via Somatic Embryogenesis

Effective plant regeneration from immature cotyledons of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cultivars was achieved via somatic embryogenesis. Somatic embryogenesis was performed with the cotyledons of immature embryos 14-20 d after flowering. Immature cotyledons of cv. Whangkeum were placed abaxial or adaxial side down on modified MS medium containing 20mg/L 2,4-D. The greatest number of somatic embryos, 1.2 per cotyledon, was produced from those of 4.0-4.9 mm in length which had been placed abaxial side down. Among cvs. Pecking, Whangkeum and Baekwoon, Pecking had the highest embryo induction efficiency with 4.3 somatic embryos per cotyledon in 20mg/L 2,4-D treatment and with 1.0 embryo per cotyledon in 8mg/L NAA treatment. Germinable globular somatic embryos were induced with the highest efficiency, 27.6%, in 20mg/L 2,4-D and were proliferated efficiently on liquid medium containing 10mg/L 2,4-D. The globular somatic embryos developed into germinable mature somatic embryos on medium containing 10 $\mu$M CoCl2, 9% sucrose, and 0.5% activated charcoal. These mature somatic embryos germinated on hormone-free mediu. After transfer to the soil, regenerated plants with seeds were obtained.