Cucumber Somatic Embryo Development on Various Gelling Agents and Carbohydrate Sources

Somatic embryos were induced on cotyledonary explants of cucumber (Cucumis sativus, L. cv. Clinton). The somatic embryo tissue was induced and multiplied on a semisolid medium. The greatest vitrification and expansion of explants were observed when 0.15% Gelrite was the gelling agent. At the induction stage, explants on a medium gelled with 0.7% agar yielded more somatic embryo tissue, uncontaminated by callus, than explants on either Gelrite (0.15%, 0.3%, and 0.6%) or on 1.4% or 0.35% agar (...)