Regeneration from anthers of adult Camellia japonica L.

Embryogenesis and callus formation in Camellia japonica L., cv. Elegans and cv. Ville de Nantes (>50 yr old), were higher when anthers at tetrad stage or early uninucleate microspore stage were used. Direct embryo formation was obtained, both in anthers and anther-petaloids. Embryogenesis only occurred under light on modified Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine (MS10). Embryo production was higher from petaloids (2.2 to 3.5 embryos/petaloid) than from anther locules (1.2 to 1.5 embryos/anther). However, petaloid-derived embryos aborted by Week 10 of culture. The embryogenic efficiency of anthers was 5.3% for cv. Elegans and 4.1% for cv. Ville de Nantes. Scanning electron microscopy images showed that anther-derived globular embryos were covered by a layer of material of smooth texture. Shoot regeneration efficiency by organogenesis was 6.8%. Regeneration by embryogenesis was 60% for cv. Ville de Nantes and 97.5% for cv. Elegans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]