Regeneration via somatic embryogenesis of the endangered wild arum (Arum palaestinum)

Somatic embryogenesis was obtained from callus of wild arum (Arum palaestinum). Callus was induced from sterilized corm bud sprouts cultured on basal medium containing 4.4 μM 6-benzyladenine and 5.4 μM 1-naphthaleneacetic acid. Callus was maintained under dark conditions using basal medium with 4.4 or 8.8 μM 6-benzyladenine and 5.4 or 10.8 μM 1-naphthaleneacetic acid. The highest callus weight and most desirable callus phenotype were achieved using basal medium containing 8.8 μM 6-benzyladenine and 5.4 μM 1-naphthaleneacetic acid. Friable calli were cultured in the dark on basal medium containing 4.5 μM 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 0.46 μM 6-furfurylaminopurine, 5.4 μM 1-naphthaleneacetic acid, and 1.7 mM proline to induce embryogenesis before transfer to regeneration medium. Embryos that developed on regeneration medium were transferred to medium minus plant growth regulators for germination. Ninety percent of the germinating embryos developed into rooted plantlets. Rooted plants were grown in the greenhouse and acclimatized successfully with a 95 % survival rate. This is the first report of successful somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in A. palaestinum.