Somatic embryogenesis from flower pedicels of oriental lilies

Research was carried out aiming at regeneration of lily plantlets, via direct somatic embryogenesis, directly from explant tissues. Flower pedicel transversal sections (3-5 mm thick) of the Oriental hybrids 'Acapulco', 'Alliance', 'Merostar', 'Simplon' and 'Star Gazer' were used as explants, cultured on MS medium, 30 g/L sucrose, 3 g/L gelrite and added with dicamba or picloram 2 or 6 mu M. Per pedicel, five sections were placed on the medium in such a way to highlight putative differences on embryogenic potential due to the distance from the tepals insertion. Somatic embryogenesis occurred upon the different experimental factors; interaction was detected among genotypes and the four culture media, as well as a decreasing embryogenic rate along the flower pedicel. Germination of somatic embryos was performed in 'Alliance'. Somatic embryos were excised from mother explant and placed on MS medium added with picloram (6 mu M) or MS hormone-free medium; moreover, they were plated on the media interposing or not sterilized filter paper. Plantlets formation readily occurred on all culture conditions, although best results were obtained on MS hormone-free medium without the use of filter paper.