Indirect Somatic Embryogenesis and Synthetic Seed Production in Cyclamen Coum

Abstract

Cyclamen coum grows naturally in various regions of Turkey, and especially because of its frost hardiness, it interests breeders. However, there is no bred variety of C. coum, and it is not produced for commercial use. In this study, a somatic embryogenesis protocol was developed using leaf and petiole explants from ten C. coum plants that were randomly selected in the north of Turkey. To produce somatic embryos, seven distinct experiments testing explant types, medium level, plant growth regulator (PGR) concentrations, and cold treatment were established. Somatic embryo production was obtained from leaf and petiole explants in semi-Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) supplemented with different concentrations of Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA) +Kinetin and NAA +6-benzyladenine (BA). The somatic embryo production rate was provided, ranging between 48.71% and 69.23%. Somatic embryogenesis-derived plantlets were acclimatized to ex-vitro conditions successfully, and 82.5% of them survived. Furthermore, in this research, the somatic embryos were encapsulated with sodium alginate (3% w/v) supplemented with MS, Woody Plant medium (WPM), or Rugini Olive Medium (ROM). The encapsulated somatic embryos tended to develop new somatic embryos with various embryo formation rates instead of directly germinating.