Somatic embryogenesis and histological analysis from zygotic embryos in Vitis vinifera L. ‘Moldova’

We examined the somatic embryogenesis from and histological studies of zygotic embryos of seeds in European Grape ‘Moldova’ (Vitis vinifera L. ‘Moldova’). Primary calli were initiated on Nitsch and Nitsch (NN) medium supplemented with 1.0 mg·L^-1 2,4-D and 0.5 mg·L^-1 6-BA. Embryogenic calli were produced upon transfer to a NN medium with 0.5 mg·L^-1 6-BA and 2 mg·L^-1 NAA and somatic embryos were obtained on a half strength MS medium without plant growth regulators. During the somatic embryo germination, an addition of 1.0 mg·L^-1 6-BA in the medium could accelerate somatic embryos to develop into normal plants and increase the conversion rate from 0 to 43.3%. Histological studies of embryogenic calli and somatic embryos demonstrated dynamic changes of proteins and starch grains. The developmental processes of somatic embryos were similar to those of zygotic embryos, including typical epiderma, cotyledon primordium and vascular tissue.