Morpho and cytological differentiation of calli of eucalyptus grandis x eucalyptus urophylla during somatic embryogenesis

Abstract

The aim of this study was to induce and analyze embryogenic calli from two types of explants (leaves and meristems) of the hybrid Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus urophylla. Leaves and meristems of plants kept in a nursery were disinfected and inoculated in Petri dishes containing MS culture medium supplemented with different concentrations of the growth regulator dicamba (1.13, 4.52, and 9.04 µM) and without it. At 60 days of culturing, the calli were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and at 90 days were evaluated by light microscopy in regard to the embryogenic characteristics of the cells. Different type of calli were induced in leaf explants, designated as Type I with light yellow coloring, Type II with dark yellow coloring, and Type III of brown coloring; however, only Type I had embryogenic characteristics. In the meristematic explants, only one type of callus was induced, and it had embryogenic characteristics. At 90 days of culturing, the formation of somatic embryos in the different embryogenic stages was observed and the formation of procambium, protoderm, and ground meristem tissues. At 150 days of culturing, the concentration of 1.13 µM of dicamba was prominent in the formation of somatic embryos in the different embryogenic stages.