Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in cotyledonary explant cultures of Chinese cabbage

Abstract

Cotyledonary explants of Chinese cabbage were cultured on Murashige and Skoog's medium supplemented with various concentrations of 2,4- dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Up to 20% of the cotyledonary explants produced somatic embryos with or without intervening callus production. Explants became more competent as the age of the source seedlings increased up to 8 days, but cotyledonary explants from 10-day-old seedlings were not responsive. Upon transfer to MS basal medium most of the somatic embryos developed into plantlets. Plantlets were transplanted to potting soil and grown to maturity in a phytotron. Among three cultivars used, only cotyledonary explants of 'Top Salad' were capable of producing somatic embryos.