Germination of somatic embryos and plant recovery in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Plant recovery from somatic embryos and the response to basal medium, hormones and sucrose were studied in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Only late torpedo and cotyledonary stage embryos were able to germinate and develop into whole plants. BT basal medium promoted root development, MS medium promoted shoot development and SH basal medium promoted the balanced growth of roots and shoots. KT was disadvantageous to germination and plant recovery. The percentages of embryos forming shoots and whole plants were increased to 83.3% and 50% by adding 0.1 mg/L NAA, but NAA concentrations (higher than 0.1 mg/L) inhibited embryo germination and plant regeneration. The best concentration of sucrose for plant formation from cotton somatic embryos was 20 g/L.