Abstract

Callus formation was observed at the basal end of axillary buds of C. pubescens and C. pentagona (babaco). Within 2-3 months somatic embryos appeared on the callus of C. pubescens but not on babaco; somatic embryos were easily recognized by their green color. Under similar concentrations, naphthalene-acetic acid [NAA] combinations with benzyladenine [BA] gave the highest yield compared to combinations with Zeatin [Z] and kinetin [K], while indoleacetic acid [IAA] combined with the same cytokinins showed lesser results. In papaya, embryogenesis was also obtained from anther cultures, and; in cell suspensions embryos could be recovered directly from single cells, by adventitious embryogenesis or from microcallus. Although callus and shoot formation was found in babaco leaf sections in presence of thidiazuron [TDZ], cells derived from these explants only formed microcalli and were not successful to undergo somatic embryogenesis in suspension