Rapid and Efficient Plant Regeneration in Emblica officinalis via Somatic Embryogenesis

Somatic embryogenesis was achieved in �Chakaiya�, a highly prized cultivar of Emblica officinalis. Zygotic embryos were cultured on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with varying concentrations of auxins and cytokinins. Murashige and Skoog�s medium supplemented with 2, 4-diclorophenoxyacetic acid (4.52�M) was found to be most effective in induction of embryogenic callus. Initiation and development of somatic embryos occurred in medium supplemented with a combination of 6- Benzyl adenine (4.44-17.8�M), kinetin (4.65- 9.29�M) and adenine sulphate (135.75�M). Somatic embryo development was asynchronous but practically all the embryos germinated well after being transferred to medium containing gibberellic acid (20�M) or 6-benzyladenine (0.44�M). When lower concentration of 6-benzyladenine (0.44�M) was combined with gibberellic acid, germinating somatic embryos produced adventitious shoot buds, which contributed to an increase the number of plantlets. The rooted plantlets were successfully transferred to soil with 62% survival.