Effects of Activated Charcoal on Growth and Morphogenesis in Cell Cultures

Abstract
The effects of activated charcoal on growth and morphogenesis in plate cultures of different plant cells have been studied. It was shown that medium containing charcoal induced embryogenesis in cultures of Daucus carota in which embryo formation could not be brought about by omitting auxin from the medium. Charcoal‐medium also induced abundant root formation in older cultures of Allium cepa, which normally did not produce roots. The growth of cultures of Glycine max and Haplopappus gracilis was totally inhibited by charcoal. It is thought that activated charcoal removes substances from the medium, one of which might be auxin.