Enhancement of somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in Japanese larch (Larix leptolepis)

Different nitrogen sources, abscisic acid (ABA), gellan gum at various concentrations, and osmotica were evaluated for their effects on maturation of somatic embryo (SE) in Japanese larch (Larix leptolepis). Different concentrations of l-glutamine or casein hydrolysate (CH) in the medium were also compared. The highest number of matured embryos was obtained with ½ Litvay (LM) medium supplemented with 1.71 mM l-glutamine and 250 mg l−1 CH. In terms of osmoticum effect, the highest number of cotyledonary SEs was produced in medium containing 0.2 M maltose. As for the effects of ABA and gellan gum concentration, the highest number of cotyledonary SEs was achieved on a medium containing 60 μM ABA and 0.8% gellan gum. In addition, the best plantlet conversion frequency (35.5%) was obtained with SEs derived from the treatment with 60 μM ABA and 0.8% gellan gum.