Desiccation of somatic embryos of<i>Cyclamen persicum</i>Mill.

Abstract

SummaryTo achieve storable somatic embryos (SE) of Cyclamen persicum, different desiccation conditions and two rehydration methods were tested. Somatic embryos derived from liquid cultures were dried in various relative humidities (r.h.) using desiccators filled with saturated salt solutions. Embryos dried to moisture contents of 24% and higher were able to germinate. For germination of the dried somatic embryos, the mode of rehydration was crucial. Only after imbibition in liquid hormone-free medium tubers were cotyledons and roots formed. Drying in decreasing r.h. (91–57–18%) resulted in low moisture contents of 12% on average, comparable with that found in seeds. Depending on the quality of somatic embryos significant differences were observed between different experiments. Somatic embryos with a high dry-matter content showed germination rates of 60% after desiccation in decreasing r.h. Germinating embryos formed bigger tubers than non-dried controls and developed cotyledons of better quality.