Somatic embryogenesis in Parana Pine (Araucaria angustifolia (Bert.) O. Kuntze)

Embryogenic cultures of Araucaria angustifolia were induced from dominant and non-dominant zygotic embryos excised from immature seeds proceeding from three different genotypes and five harvest dates. Zygotic embryos were inoculated in inductive culture medium LP and BM supplemented with or without plant growth regulators 2,4-D (5 muM), BA (2 muM) and Kin (2 muM). The genotype of the mother tree and the developmental explant stage affected the induction frequency. In the maintenance phase, embryogenic cultures were maintained at continuous repetitive cell cycles every 20 days in semi-solid or liquid medium. In the maturation phase the culture medium was supplemented with different types and levels of growth regulators, osmotic agents, carbohydrates and derived. Embryogenic cultures inoculated in culture medium supplemented with PEG 3350 (6 and 9016), maltose (6 and 9%), plus BA and Kin (1 muM each) resulted in the progression of somatic embryos to globular and torpedo developmental stages.