Efficient in vitro bulblet regeneration from immature embryos of endangered Sternbergia fischeriana

Sternbergia fischeriana is an endangered geophyte and therefore in vitro micropropagation of this plant will have great importance for germplasm conservation and commercial production. Bulb scale and immature embryo explants of S. fischeriana were cultured on different nutrient media supplemented with various concentrations of plant growth regulators. Immature embryos produced higher number of bulblets than bulb scales. Large numbers of bulblets were regenerated (over 80 bulblets/explants) from immature embryos on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 4 mg l super(-1) 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) and 0.25 mg l super(-1) alpha -naphthaleneacetic (NAA) or 2 mg l super(-1)2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) after 14 months of culture initiation. Regenerated bulblets were kept at 5 degree C for 5 weeks and then transplanted to a potting mixture.