Regeneration of Robiniapseudoacacia via somatic embryogenesis

Tissue cultures were initiated from developing seeds of black locust (Robiniapseudoacacia L.) collected from three trees at weekly intervals from 1 week following anthesis until early fruit maturity. Explants were cultured on media containing 0, 2, or 4 mg/L 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 0 or 0.25 mg/L 6-benzyladenine. Seeds explanted onto hormone-supplemented media remained on these media for 1 or 3 weeks before being placed on hormone-free media, or were maintained on hormone-supplemented media for the entire study. Direct somatic embryogenesis was observed in a single culture, initiated from a seed collected 4 weeks after anthesis and cultured for 1 week on a medium supplemented with 4 mg/L 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 0.25 mg/L 6-benzyladenine before transfer to basal medium. Although it could not be discerned from which part of the explant somatic embryos were derived, secondary embryogenesis continued from the radicles of cotyledonary-stage somatic embryos. Most somatic embryos were well formed, with two distinct cotyledons. Embryos germinated precociously, producing plantlets that were initially weak but later gained vigor and resembled seedlings.