• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.29-33
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• 2000

To develop an efficient propagation method for yew tree, zygotic embryos were cultured under various conditions. When dissected embryos were cultured on GA$_3$ containing media, the highest germination frequency was observed on WPM medium contaning 1.0 mg/L GA$_3$. For germination of the embryos, two different conditions were compared; culturing embryos with endosperm (Method I), and 2) culturing embryos only (Method II). Maximum germination was achieved in 0.5 mg/L GA$_3$ when embryos with endosperm were cultured on the media. Of the media tested, White and WPM medium were the most suitable on germination of embryos. The abnormality of yew embryos found was observed when it cultured on GA$_3$ or culture media. About 40% of the precociously germinated embryos could be developed into full seedlings. Seedlings contained taxol in high quantity (535 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g dry weight). In vitro techniques will be sewed as a useful tool for the development of transformed root cultures and biosynthesis studies.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.213-219
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• 2004

Zygotic embryos were excised from immature and mature seeds of the Himalayan yew, Taxus wallichiana. The embryos germinated precociously when kept in darkness for 5 weeks and developed into full seedlings within 10-12 weeks. The highest rate of embryo germination ($81\%$) was obtained in modified Lloyd & McCown' s woody plant medium containing macro and micronutrients at half strength supplemented with $1\%$ activated charcoal, which supported both the best embryonic growth ($43\%$) and seedling development ($32\%$). However, the supplementation of basal media with kinetin, thidiazuron, 6-benzyl aminopurine or $GA_3$ had no effect on the germination of the embryos. The embryos derived from immature seeds germinated but the frequency of embryonic growth was better in mature seeds. Stratification of seeds effected precocious germination of embryos. Seeds kept at $4^{\circ}C$ for 1 week germinated earlier and at a higher frequency irrespective of the stage of seed maturity, while the germination rate declined with prolonged cold treatment for 1 month at that same temperature. Analysis of taxanes in germinating seedlings revealed that root tissues contained high levels of taxol, 10-deacetyl-baccatin ill and baccatin ill as compared to shoots. Thus embryo culture technique appears to overcome the lengthy dormancy requirement of T. wallichiana seeds.

• Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.299-307
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• 2000

A large amount of information is currently available for somatic embryogenesis of plants. However, one common problem related to somatic embryos is that the conversion rate can be low for some species. Apical meristems are responsible for post-embryonic growth of the embryo. The low percentage observed is most likely a result of poor apical meristem development or defects in the meristem organization during somatic embryogenesis. In flowering plants, apical meristems are well developed by the late heart stage of zygotic embryo development. In conifers, such as white spruce, apical meristems are formed at the pre-cotyledon stage. Thus, apical meristem development occurs very early, prior to the maturation stage of embryo development. Once formed, meristems are stably determined. In the somatic embryo, as exemplified by white spruce, since embryo development is not synchronous, tissue differentiation including apical meristem formation occurs throughout the“maturation”stage. Different apical meristem organizations can be found among different individuals within a population. In contrast to their zygotic counterparts, the apical meristems appear not to be stably determined as their organization, as the shoot apical meristem especially, can be easily modified or disrupted. Precocious germination seldom results in functional plantlets. All these observations suggest that the conditions for somatic embryo maturation have not been optimized or are not suitable for meristem formation and development. The following strategies could improve meristem development and hence conversion: 1. Simulate in ouuio conditions to promote meristem development prior to the“maturation”treatment.2. Prevent deterioration of apical meristem organization during somatic embryo maturation.3. Promote further meristem development during embryo germination.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.195-202
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• 1998

The development of a protocol for high efficiency of embryogenic callus separation, maintenance and plant regeneration from the seeds of zoysiagrass cv. Zenith was studied. Embryogenic callus ratio is absolutely determined by genotype, but by adding high concentration of copper into medium, changing light condition and maintaining callus on initial induction medium for 8∼10 weeks, embryogenic callus can be easily distinguished and its growth can be promoted. There were significant differences among selected callus lines (each from one seed) according to their growth rates and regeneration percentages. Callus pre-treatment with activated charcoal inhibited callus growth, increased the level of precocious germination during culture and promoted shoot cluster formation after transfer to regeneration medium. For long-term callus maintenance, N6AA medium was better than MS medium, because the former inhibited non-embryogenic callus formation and kept vigor of embryogenic callus. The best callus lines Z-(5) has been successfully used for transformation and somaclonal variation selection in our laboratory.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.187-193
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• 2005

A protocol was developed for somatic embryogenesis with 100% induction rate from immature zygotic embryo axes of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L. cv. DRG-12) cultured on MS medium containing $18.09\;{\mu}M$ 2,4-D. The frequency of somatic embryogenesis (31.7%) as well as the number of somatic embryos induced per explant (6.6) decreased when the concentration of 2,4-D was increased to $72.4\;{\mu}M$. Morphologically abnormal somatic embryos were observed at a frequency of 43.3% on MS medium containing $72.4\;{\mu}M$ 2,4-D. Somatic embryos isolated from 30-day-old cultures of immature zygotic embryo axes exhibited precocious germination with varied responses when placed on MS basal medium with 3% sucrose. Maximum shoot induction (80.0%) was observed from somatic embryos isolated from 60-day-old cultures of immature zygotic embryo axes when placed as a clump rather than individually on MS medium supplemented with $26.63\;{\mu}M$ BA and $0.54\;{\mu}M$ NAA. Shoots developed from somatic embryos rooted with higher frequency (93.3%) on Blaydes' medium containing $5.4\;{\mu}M$ NAA.