Induction of somatic embryogenesis in cashewnut (Anacardium occidentale L.)

Abstract

Somatic embryogenesis was induced in callus cultures derived from nucellar tissue of cashewnut (Anacardium occidentale L.). Callus was obtained from nucellar tissue after 3 wk of culture on semisolid Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D, 5 mM) ϩ gibberellic acid (GA 3 , 15 mM) ϩ N 6 -benzyladenine (BA, 5 mM). This callus gave rise to an embryogenic mass after 9 wk on maintenance medium containing 2, 4-D (10 mM) ϩ GA 3 (15 mM) ϩ 4% sucrose ϩ 0.5% activated charcoal ϩ 10% coconut water (CW) ϩ 0.05% casein hydrolysate (CH). The embryogenic mass, after transfer to medium supplemented with 2,4-D (5 mM) ϩ GA 3 (30 mM) ϩ 4% sucrose ϩ 0.5% activated charcoal ϩ 10% CW ϩ 0.05% CH, gave rise to somatic embryos. The developmental stages of somatic embryos were observed using light and stereo microscopes. Histological study of somatic embryo development was also carried out. The present study would be useful for clonal propagation, and variety improvement in cashewnut, which is essential due to its increasing demand and export potential.

In vitro plantlet regeneration of Schinopsis balansae (Anacardiaceae)

“…Plant regeneration through either organogenesis or somatic embryogenesis has been accomplished in some members of the Anacardiaceae, such as Mangifera indica (Bhaskaran and Prabhudesai 1989;Litz et al 1984), Anacardium occidentale (Bhaskaran and Prabhudesai 1989;Das et al 1996;Gogte and Nadgauda 2000), Pistacia atlantica (Mederos et al 1997) and Pistacia vera (Dolcet-Sanjuan and Claveria 1995; Parfitt and Almehdi 1994;Yang and Lüdders 1993). However, up to now there are no publications on the tissue culture of Schinopsis balansae.…”