Loss of competence for glyoxysome formation during somatic embryogenesis in anise (Pimpinella anisum L.) suspension cultures.

Somatic embryogenesis in anise (Pimpinella anisum L.) suspension cultures induced by transfer to hormone-free growth medium may be synchronized by previous selection of cell aggregates with diameters between 100-240 μm. Around 80-90% of the embryoids are globular after 2-3 d, heart-shaped after 5-7 d and torpedo-shaped after 9 d. In embryogenic medium without source of carbon or with 20 mmol/l acetate differentiation and growth cease. But like in dedifferentiated cell aggregates the key enzyme activities for glyoxysomes such as isocitrate lyase and malate synthase are induced in globular (3 d old) and heart-shaped (5 d old) embryoids, but not in embryoids at day 7 or later. Similarly, in explants from anise hypocotyl glyoxysomes cannot be derepressed by such treatment. It is concluded that during differentiation of heart-shaped embryoids to torpedo forms the competence of the cells for the yet unknown inducing principle for glyoxysomes is lost.