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Title: INDUCTION OF SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS IN O'HENRY CULTIVAR OF PEACH (PRUNUS PERSICA)

Author
item JOSHEE, N - FT VALLEY STATE UNIV
item YADAV, ANAND - FT VALLEY STATE UNIV
item SUBRAMANYAN, YAN - UNIV. GUELPH
item Hammerschlag, Freddi

Submitted to: In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2003
Publication Date: 6/1/2003
Citation: Joshee, N., Yadav, A., Subramanyan, Y., Hammerschlag, F.A. 2003. Induction of somatic embryogenesis in o'henry cultivar of peach (prunus persica). Meeting Abstract. 39:48A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The peach industry plays an important role in the agricultural economy of the southeastern United States, annually producing 35% of the American peach crop. Peach tree short life (PTSL) syndrome results in the drastic decline in peach tree population and orchard longevity. It prematurely kills trees mostly under 6-8 years of age in Georgia and 8-10 years throughout the Southeast. Gene transfer strategies could play a very important role in the improvement of peach cultivars to increase tree survival and enhance orchard longevity. Our primary goal has been to develop efficient and reproducible protocols for plant regeneration amenable to gene transfer strategies. Somatic embryogenesis in peach has not yet been reported, since this species is very highly regeneration recalcitrant. OHenry is a highly colorful, late ripening, and heavy yielding commercial peach cultivar with showy blooms. We initiated somatic embryogenesis using immature OHenry embryos as explants on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with different concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 mg per liter) of 2,4-D plus 400 mg per liter glutamine, 3% sucrose and 0.25% phytagel as a solidifying agent. Cultures were incubated in dark, and the first callus response was seen after 5-6 weeks as a creamish white mass of fast dividing cells. After six weeks, explants were subcultured onto the same medium and incubated in the dark. The best responses for somatic embryo induction were obtained on MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg per liter 2,4-D and 400 mg per liter glutamine. Somatic embryos at the globular stage were observed after an incubation period of almost 12-13 weeks. Further incubation of somatic embryo masses in the hormone-free medium yielded heart-shaped and bipolar structures. In a few cases, elongation of radicles was also evident in the hormone-free medium. At the present time, the majority of the cultures are in the maturation medium for further development. We will continue to further refine and standardize somatic embryogenesis to adopt it for our peach improvement program.