Embryogenesis and Plantlet Formation in Tissue Cultures of Celery

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Abstract
Callus cultures were initiated from sections of petioles of celery (Apium graveolens) var. Lathom Blanching on a modification of the Murashige and Skoog medium. The callus, when isolated from the parent explant, could be sub-cultured at regular intervals forming both new callus and embryoids during each subculture. The embryoids appeared to be initiated on the callus surface where early embryonic forms were found, but their continued development into plants only occurred when embryoids were transferred to a hormonefree medium. Embryoids were also formed in suspension culture following inoculation of the liquid medium by differentiating callus, but again development of these structures was limited to the early embryonic forms. When transferred to a solid hormone-free medium, the embryoids, from either callus or suspension culture, developed into plantlets which could be transferred to soil and grown to maturity with only a few losses. The relevance of this system as an aid in the breeding programme of self-blanching celery is discussed.