Received: 25-07-2014 / Accepted: 08-11-2016
The present study aimed at regenerating cassava(Manihot esculenta Crantz) via somatic embryogenesis. The explants used were immature leaves harvestedfrom 2-3-week old in vitroplantsderived from two cassava cultivars, KM94 andKM140. Somatic embryogenesis was achieved with high frequencies usingMS medium supplemented with a wide range of picloram concentrations. The results showed that the highest rate of somatic embryo formation for both cultivars was obtained when cultured in MS mediumcontaining 12 mg/l picloram. Although the number of embryos per explant was similar between two cultivars at4 weeksof culture, KM94 cultivar gave a higher rate (81,4 ± 1,7%) than KM140 cultivar (70,4 ± 2,9%). Somatic embryos were subsequently transferred to MS medium supplemented with 0.3 mg/l BAP for plantlet regeneration. All shoots with 1.0-1.5 cmin length transferredto - hormone-free MS medium formed roots in 2 weeks. Rooted plantlets were transplanted toa mixture of rice husk (40%) and sandy soil (60%) in greenhouse. This protocol required 16 to 18 weeks and was entirely appropriate for mass production of various cassava genotypes and further genetic transformation experiments.
