Improvement Germination and Conversion of Somatic Embryos and Production of Normal Plantlets in Ferula Assa-foetida L. (A Rare Medicinal Plant)

Secondary somatic embryogenesis leads to the formation of abnormal somatic embryos and produces abnormal seedlings. Normal plants are difficult to obtain from these embryos, due to the asynchronous maturation of the embryogenic tissues and low germination and conversion rates. The effects of some media additives and different strengths of MS medium on germination and plantlet formation of in vitro derived somatic embryos of Ferula Assa-foetida were studied. The highest number of normal embryos was observed in MS medium containing 30g/l sucrose with 0.5% or 1% AC and in MS medium supplemented with PEG and 0.5% or 1% AC. The treatments of MS medium with 30g/l sucrose and 0.5% AC × MS medium containing sorbitol and MS medium containing PEG and 1% AC × ½ MS had maximum number of normal germinated embryos without secondary somatic embryogenesis (SSE). In some of the treatments the embryos were converted better than the others, such as; the interaction effect of MS medium with 30g/l sucrose and 0.5% AC× MS, MS medium with 30g/l sucrose × MS medium with glutamine. Using different strength of MS medium and presence of some media additives is effective on germination and conversion of somatic embryos into normal plantlet. Presence of Activated Charcoal in the culture medium can reduce secondary somatic embryogenesis.