In vitro Long-term Storage and Regeneration of Bulgarian Grapevine Variety "Velika" via Repetitive Somatic Embryogenesis

Somatic embryogenesis being one of the in vitro techniques that produce high regeneration rates, serves for high frequency propagation, gene transfer and germplasm storage. The aim of this work is to study the possibilities for in vitro long-term storage of grapevine genetic resources via repetitive somatic embryogenesis. Thirteen years after induction from leaves explants embryogenic cultures of Bulgarian grapevine variety "Velika" are still propagating via repetitive somatic embryogenesis in frame of clusters keeping their embryogenic and morphogenic competence. Plantlents regeneration from cotyledonary stage somatic embryos showed a normal phenotype compared with shoot-tip propagated controls. The genetic fidelity of regenerated plants was assessed by DNA analysis using Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) markers. The amplified loci showed no differences between mother and regenerated plants, confirming the genetic authenticity of in vitro stored and propagated plants.