Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. (Cactaceae)

• Published in: Scientia horticulturae Vol. 108; no. 1; pp. 15 - 21
• Main Authors: Gomes, Francisco Linhares Arruda Ferreira, Heredia, Fabíola Fernandes, Silva, Priscilla Barbeta e, Facó, Olivardo, Campos, Francisco de Assis de Paiva
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 16.03.2006; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; Haploidy, in vitro culture applications, somatic hybrids; Opuntia ficus-indica; Picloram; Plant breeding: fundamental aspects and methodology; Prickly-pear; Somatic embryogenesis; Picloram; Opuntia ficus-indica; Prickly-pear; Somatic embryogenesis; Cactaceae; Horticulture; Pesticides; Tissue culture; Micropropagation; Herbicide; Pyridine derivatives; Somatic embryo; Regeneration; Fruit crop; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta; Opuntia ficus indica
• ISSN: 0304-4238; 1879-1018
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2005.12.007

We present here a method for the regeneration of the prickly-pear ( Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.) through somatic embryogenesis (SE). Direct SE was induced by cultivating shoot apices devoid of leaf primordia on semisolid Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with 4-amino 3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (picloram) at 4 mg l −1. Somatic embryogenesis was influenced by the type, age, physiological and developmental stage of the explants, and also by light conditions, wounding, and the sucrose concentration in the induction medium. A histological analysis confirmed SE by revealing the presence of a closed vascular system in the developing embryos and the absence of a vascular connection between the somatic embryos and the explant.