Abstract

Induction of somatic embryos of Eucalyptus globulus from seeds, hypocotyls, cotyledons and micropropagated leaves was studied. The material with the highest proliferation rate was transferred to differentiation treatments. The best treatments were determined based on growth, oxidation and embryogenic development stages. Finally, the somatic cotyledonary embryos were transferred- to germination conditions, to induce conversion to plantlets. In the induction, >60% callogenesis was obtained when using mature seeds and leaves and during proliferation; the highest calli multiplication was achieved with culture. medium B5 + 2.0mg.l(-1) 2,4-D + 0.5mg.l(-1) BAP (I3) when employing seeds, cotyledons and hypocotyls. During differentiation on B5 + 0.1mg.l(-1) ANA + 0.1mg-l(-1) BAP (D3), mature cotyledonary states were obtained that produced leaves, hypocotyls and secondary roots after being transferred to germination conditions. In conclusion, a lesser cell differentiation and ontogenic age of calli coming from seeds, allowed the achivement of high callogenesis, less oxidation and differentiation of cotyledonary stages capable of germinating to obtain plantlets, in contrast with the other explants.