Abstract

The effects of exogenous gibberellic acid (GA₃) and paclobutrazol on induction of somatic embryos in wild type and hairy root culture of Centaurium erythraea Gillib. were investigated. Both compounds were incorperated into 1/2 MS medium at 6 concentrations (0.01, 0.03, 0.1, 0.3, 1.0 and 3.0 µM). Wild type root and hairy root explants cultured in the presence of GA₃ at all tested concentrations under 16-h photoperiod or in the darkness decreased the number of somatic embryos that were produced. Paclobutrazol (0.3 mM) induced the largest number (19.7, 16.5) of somatic embryos in wild type and hairy root cultures, respectively. Rooting of plantsderived from somatic embryos as achieved on ½MS medium. These results indicate that paclobutrazol is beneficial for somatic embryo induction and formation in wild type and hairy root culture.

Key words: Hairy root, medicinal plants, root explants, somatic embryos.