Clonal propagation of Cyclamen persicum via somatic embryogenesis.

Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum) is an economically important ornamental pot plant with local use as cut flower as well. Traditionally, it is propagated via seeds, but interest is given in vegetative propagation of parental lines as well as superior single plants. Somatic embryogenesis is an efficient in vitro propagation method for many cyclamen cultivars. Starting from ovules of unpollinated flowers, callus is induced and propagated in a medium containing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 6-(gamma,gamma-dimethylallylamino)purine (2iP). Transfer to hormone-free medium results in the differentiation of somatic embryos, which afterwards germinate on the same medium. These first culture stages take about 6-7 months and are carried out in complete darkness. Two to four months after the transfer to light, plantlets develop which can be acclimatized in the greenhouse. The regenerated plants are characterized by low percentages of somaclonal variation. This protocol has proven useful not only for clonal propagation, but also for artificial seed preparation, cryopreservation, genetic transformation and protoplast regeneration.