739-745Somatic embryo-like structures (SELS) were produced in vitro from leaf disk and petiole
explants of two cultivars of strawberry (Fragaria
× ananassa Duch) on Murashige and
Skoog medium with different concentrations and combinations of 2,4‑dichlorophenoxyacetic
acid (2,4-D), 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and sucrose to check the embryonic
nature of these structures histologically. A large number of SELS could be
regenerated in both cultivars on media with 2 - 4 mg L-1 2,4-D in
combination with 0.5 - 1 mg L-1 BAP and 50 g L-1
sucrose. Histological examination of SELS revealed the absence of a root pole.
Therefore these structures cannot be strictly classified as somatic embryos.
The SELS formed under the tested culture conditions represent malformed
shoot-like and leaf-like structures. The importance of these results for the
propagation of strawberries via somatic embryogenesis is discussed