EFFECT OF CULTURE DENSITIES ON CELL-PROLIFERATION AND REGENERATION FROM EMBRYOGENIC CELL-SUSPENSIONS OF PICEA-SITCHENSIS

Suspension cultures were established from embryogenic cell masses initiated from mature zygotic embryos of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis). The sedimented cell volume (SCV) of suspension cultures was used as a non-destructive parameter for quantifying the proliferation. The proliferation rate of the suspension culture was influenced by the relative culture density (ml SVC per 100 ml suspension) and the total volume of suspension culture per flask (at 20% cell density). The differences in proliferation rate were ascribed an interaction between volume of culture medium and volume of culture atmosphere. An efficient system for controlled plating of the embryogenic suspension cultures is used to demonstrate the effect of plating density on regeneration (formation of "stage 2, 3 and 4" somatic embryos (SE)). Plantlets, regenerated from suspension cultures, have been succesfully transferred to soil and exhibit normal growth and development as compared with seedlings. © 1990.