In this study, we established a novel somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration system through cell suspension culture of white dandelion (Taraxacum coreanum NAKAI.). Embryogenic calli could be initiated from leaf and root explants of sterile seedlings on solid Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) after 3-week cultures. To proliferate embryogenic calli rapidly, cell suspension culture was performed with transferred to liquid MS medium with various combinations of plant growth regulators (PGRs) including 2,4-D, α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), N6-benzylamino purine (BAP), thidiazuron (TDZ), and kinetin. During suspension cultures, embryogenic calli not only greatly proliferated, but shoot organogenesis also simultaneously occurred from the surface of somatic embryos. Among them, TDZ at lower concentration, 0.1 mg/L produced the highest efficiency of somatic embryo formation and shoot organogenesis. Rooting of embryogenic calli with adventitious shoots was done on solid MS medium containing 0.1 mg/L NAA and 0.3% activated carbon. Nearly 80% of embryogenic calli with shoot organogenesis could be rooted normal. Well-rooted plantlets were transferred into pots under a greenhouse condition, and plants derived from this system appeared phenotypically normal.

• Yan-Lin Sun
• Jae-Hak Kim
• Soon-Kwan Hong