Induction of Indirect Somatic Embryogenesis on Embryonic Axis of TRI2025 Tea Clone

Abstract

Tea (Camellia sinensis L.) is classified as cross-pollinated crop and vegetative multiplication becomes commercially the main method of propagation with some limitations such as high heterogeneity and poor in survival rate and also in rooting. A proven tissue culture method, somatic embryogenesis, is the only challenging way to meet the needs of tea seedlings in large quantities. The study was conducted with TRI2025 tea clone selected from Polyclonal garden of PT. Pagilaran (Batang, Central Java). The explants were cultured on MS media supplemented with four concentrations of 2,4-D (0, 1, 2, and 5 mg L-1) in two incubation conditions; dark and light. The results showed the only concentration of 2,4-D that can induce somatic embryo was 2 mg L-1 2,4-D in light condition and its percentage was about 5%. Other concentrations of 2,4-D that given for treatments both in two conditions will not induce somatic embryo. This study needs more improvements for getting powerful and efficient of method to get somatic embryo-derived plant and also for futher successful genetic engineering of tea biotechnology.