Effect of exogenous cytokinins on growth and somatic embryogenesis in anise cells (Pimpinella anisum L.).

A cell culture of anise was grown in the presence or absence of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Application of isopentenyladenine or isopentenyladenosine (4·10(-8) to 4·10(-7) M) to the proembryonic culture (+2,4-D) yielded an increase of the cell density, in contrast to a proembryonic culture grown without exogenous application of cytokinins. Embryogenesis was induced by transferring the cells to a hormone-free medium. Embryo development was promoted by isopentenyladenine and isopentenyladenosine (5·10(-8) to 5·10(-7) M), higher concentrations (5·10(-6) M) inhibited embryogenesis. The effect of cytokinins on embryogenesis was only promotive until the third day of culture, i.e. coincident with cell growth rather than differentiation.