In vitro culture of fennel tissues (Foeniculum vulgare Miller) from cell suspension to mature plant

Abstract Callus produced by bitter Fennel explants cultivated on a modified Murashige and Skoog medium containing 2,4-D easily gave rise to cell suspensions when grown in a shaken liquid medium. These suspensions also produced embryoids. We here describe the several cultural stages necessary before the plantlets raised from these embryoids could be transferred to soil. More than 800 plants have been obtained in this way since 1980, and have all reached full maturity. However, most of them did not produce viable seeds and many died during the winter. These problems are discussed.