Micropropagation via somatic embryogenesis of rare and endangered species, Acanthopanax seoulenses Nakai

A somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration study was conducted with a rare and endangered species, Acanthopanax seoulenses, and various factors affecting somatic embryo induction were evaluated. The frequency of embryogenic callus induction was slightly better on wounded seeds compared with non-wounded ones. The optimum medium to induce somatic embryos (SEs) from embryogenic cells was MS medium supplemented with 3% sucrose and 0.1–0.2 mg/l abscisic acid (ABA), or MS medium with 3% sucrose and 0.1 mg/l ABA+0.02% activated charcoal. Gibberellic acid resulted in a positive effect on SE germination, but there were no differences in the range of 0.1 to 1.0 mg/l. SE germination and plant conversion rate were different in the two gelling agents: agar-gelled medium was slightly better than gelite-gelled medium, and the highest plant conversion, 78±18.2%, was achieved in agar-gelled medium. Regenerated plantlets were successfully acclimatized in artificial soil mixture, and more than 98% of the plants survived in vermiculite or an equal volume mixture of vermiculite and peat moss. Results suggest that the rare and endangered species is able to propagate effectively via the somatic embryogenesis system.