Maturation of Aesculus flava Marshall. androgenic embryos

Abstract

Nevertheless, cultivated A. flava tree, about 15 years old, growing in the Botanical Garden "Jevremovac" of the Belgrade University. Closed flower buds (4-5 mm long) with premature anthers were harvested from A. flava tree. Androgenesis was induced in anther culture on solid MS (Murashige and Skoog, 1962) medium with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and kinetin (1.0 mg/l of each). Globular androgenic embryos were appeared after two months. However, after globular embryos, heart, torpedo-like and cotyledonal embryos were appeared. Feature development and multiplication of androgenic embryos proceed on a solid medium with reduced concentration of 2,4-D (0.01 mg/l) and same concentration of kinetin. After medium for multiplication, embryos were cultured on media for embryo maturation supplemented with various concentrations (0.1, 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 %) of activated charcoal. The effect of activated charcoal has been attributed to the absorption of inhibitory substances, such as phenolic compounds which are produced by embryos, from the medium. The best results of germination and maturation of A. flava androgenic embryos were obtained on medium supplemented with 1 % activated charcoal. Also, the greatest number of secondary somatic embryos and the lowest number of albino embryos were noticed on the same medium. This is the first report about induction and maturation androgenic embryos originating from A. flava anther culture.