745 In Vitro Plantlets from Somatic Embryos of Selected Ornamental Plants - A New Prospect for Interior Decorations and Horticulture Industry R.M. Taha and N.A. Hasbullah A. Awal Institute of Biological Sciences Faculty of Applied Science Faculty of Science Mara University of Technology University of Malaya 40450 Shah Alam 50603 Kuala Lumpur Selangor Malaysia Malaysia Keywords: plantlet, regeneration, Murashige and Skoog medium, growth regulators, somatic embryogenesis, in vitro Abstract Somatic embryogenesis is a multi-step process for the induction and development of somatic embryo and the production of plantlets phenotypically like the parental clones (Stefaniak, 1994) but in miniature at first. In this study, several ornamental plants such as Gerbera jamesonii, Begonia × hiemalis Fotsch., and Saintpaulia ionantha were successfully regenerated through somatic embryogenesis process, starting from leaf, petiole and stem. Explant were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with growth regulators such as 6-Benzyl- aminopurine (BAP), α-Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), 2, 4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and Thidiazuron (TDZ). Due to the attractiveness and elegance of in vitro plantlets derived from somatic embryos, they have the potential to be promoted and marketed as interior decorations, scientific handicrafts and further publicized as a new prospect in horticulture industry. INTRODUCTION Plant tissue culture is a technique to propagate plant under aseptic condition starting from any part of plant; today, it is a technique widely used worldwide by ornamental industry and nursery activity on the whole knowing the potential of cultured tissues to regenerate into complete plant. (Chu, 1992; Huetteman and Preece, 1993; Mantell et al., 1985; Pierik, 1987). Somatic embryogenesis was introduced as development of plant in vitro propagation and somatic embryo production is steadily increased as essential factors become better understood (Williams and Maheswaran, 1986). The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility to produce and use in vitro plantlets obtained from somatic embryogenesis of Gerbera, Begonia and Saintpaulia, as interior design and decoration products. Gerbera jamesonii (African daisy), Begonia × hiemalis Fotsch (Begonia Rose) and Saintpaulia ionantha (African violet) are three important ornamental species with very high economical value. In vitro plantlets from somatic embryogenesis could represent a new interior decorative product, scientifically and exclusively designed, suitable for the commercialization by the horticulture industry worldwide. MATERIALS AND METHODS Standard tissue culture method was used in this study. Explants of Gerbera jamesonii were obtained from 8-weeks-old aseptic seedlings. Somatic embryos of Gerbera jamesonii were induced when embryogenic callus obtained from petiole explants was cultured on MS (Murashige and Skoog, 1962) medium fortified with 1.0 mgL -1 BAP, 0.1 mgL -1 NAA and 50mM L-Proline. Explants of Begonia × hiemalis Fotsch Schwabenland Red were obtained from stock plant, surface sterilized and cultured onto MS medium with the addition of 1.0 mgL -1 BAP and 1.0 mgL -1 NAA to induce plantlet regeneration. Leaf explants were then cultured on MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mgL -1 BAP, 0.5 mgL -1 2,4-D and 500 mgL -1 casein hydrolysate for the induction of Proc. II nd Int’l Conf. on Landscape and Urban Hort. Eds.: G. Prosdocimi Gianquinto and F. Orsini Acta Hort. 881, ISHS 2010