Endive Plantlets from Freely Suspended Cells and Cell Groups Grown in vitro

Abstract

Callus tissue derived from mature embryos of the endive, Cichorium endivia Linn. (family Compositae) grows and develops chlorophyll on a completely defined nutrient medium. The tissue breaks up into a thick suspentsion of cells and cell groups in a liquid medium kept in a flask on a shaker. Gradually, many small round masses of tissue, designated here as embryoids, are formed; these become differentiated and organized to form numnerous small plantlets having typical curled and fringed green leaves and roots.