Somatic embryogenesis of the hybrid Abies cilicica × Abies cephalonica

The interspecific hybrid fir Abies cilicica × Abies cephalonica is based on native species Abies cephalonica (Loud.) and Abies cilicica (Ant. et Kotschy) Carr. Many variants of nutrient media have been tested. The medium BAP at a concentration of 1 mg·l–1, 1,000 mg·l–1 myo-inositol, 500 mg·l–1 glutamine, and 1,000 mg·l–1 casein was found to be the most suitable initiation medium for somatic embryogenesis of this hybrid. Embryogenic suspensor mass was produced from immature and mature primary explants. The initiation frequency of ESM was dependent on the composition of nutrient medium, plant growth regulators, and time of seeds collection. The ESM initiation from immature seeds was higher in comparison with mature zygotic embryos, but the results were not significantly different. As the most suitable maturation medium was evaluated the medium based on Murashige and Skoog medium which contained 10 mg·l–1 abscisic acid, 100 g·l–1 PEG and 40 g·l–1 maltose (MM 2 medium).