Date Received: 25-07-2014 / Date Accepted: 25-09-2014 / Date Published: 06-08-2025
Somatic embryogenesis is a process where a plant or embryo is derived from a single somatic cell or group of somatic cells. When compared to other methods of vegetative propagation, somatic embryogenesis has more applications, such as clonal propagation of genetically uniform plant material, elimination of viruses, provision of source tissue for genetic transformation, generation of whole plants from single cells and development of synthetic seed technology. The aim of this study was to establish an in vitro system for the induction of somatic embryo in Ngoc Linh ginseng (Panax vietnamensis Ha et Grushv.) – a precious and economic medical herb of Vietnam. Leaf explants of 0.5 x 0.5 cm in size were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 1.0 mg.l-12,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 1.0 mg.l-1 naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) for callus induction. Callus explants were cultured on MS medium supplemented with various concentrations of 2,4-D, kinetin and NAA to establish embryogenic culture. After 8 weeks of culture, globular structures were obtained. The highest efficiency of somatic embryo production was achieved on MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg.l-1 2,4-D, 0.2 mg.l-1 kinetin and 0.5 mg.l-1 NAA. After 12 weeks of culture, all stages of somatic embryogenesis, including globular, heart-, torpedo- and cotyledonary-shaped embryos were observed in embryogenic clusters. Histological observation and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed that the embryos had bipolar structure.
