Acta Univ Latv (2004) 676: 197–200

Organogenesis of Fraxinus excelsior L. by isolated mature embryo culture

Abstract

The in vitro organogenesis of common ash Fraxinus excelsior L. on isolated mature embryo culture was investigated. Mature seeds of three genotypes (maternal trees) were collected from different ash populations of Lithuania: 'Kedainiai' (K-59), 'Nemencine' (N-5) and 'Telsiai' (T-3). The nonstratified seeds were disinfected with 70 % sulphur acid 1 min and with 80 % ethyl alcohol 3 min followed by four rinses in sterile distilled water. Mature zygotic embryos were aseptically removed from endosperm and placed on solified Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 1 mg l-1 6-benzylaminpurine, 1 mg l-1 Ca pantetonate and 30 g l-1 sucrose. Morphogenesis was observed every 10 days. The genotype of common ash had high effects on organogenesis. The T-3 maternal tree embryo showed the highest morphogenesis capacity under the same cultivation conditions, forming all organs within 20 days and at the highest frequency. Hypocotyls, embryonic leafs and embryonic stems could be used for direct organogenesis of Fraxinus excelsior L.