Somatic embryo proliferation in <i style="">Commiphora wightii</i> and evidence for guggulsterone production in culture

Abstract

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A method for obtaining somatic embryos consistently in <i style="">Commiphora wightii</i> (Arnott.) Bhandari has been developed. Somatic embryos when sub-cultured on modified MS medium containing ABA (10 µg L^-1) produced more embryos directly by meristematic activity of the epidermal and subepidermal cells at the hypocotyl region or also from the root tip region. Embryo proliferation was also observed on auxin-cytokinin free modified MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of activated charcoal, abscisic acid, mannitol and sucrose. Modified MS hormone-free medium containing activated charcoal 0.5 g L^-1and sucrose 10 g L^-1was most suitable for multiplication and maturation of embryos. Embryo formation was also recorded from callus produced by earlier formed somatic embryos (indirect). Embryos obtained from various maturation treatments when desiccated under laminar airflow bench for 5-9 d showed maximum germination percentage. Guggulsterone-E and -Z contents of <i style="">in vitro</i> embryonic cultures were ¼ - and ½ -fold of that found in zygotic embryos, but several fold higher than callus cultures, therefore, hold promise for the production of bioactive guggulsterones.

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