Establishment and plant regeneration of somatic embryogenic cell suspension cultures of the Zingiber officinale Rosc.

Somatic embryogenic cell suspension cultures of four ginger cultivars were established. Somatic embryogenic calli were induced from ginger shoot tips on MS agar medium supplemented with 1.0 mg l−1 2,4-D and 0.2 mg l−1 Kn, which contained only half concentration of NH4NO3. Rapid-growing and well-dispersed suspension cultures were established by subculturing this kind of callus in the same liquid MSN medium. The suspension cultures (about 1-2 mm in diameter) were placed on the MSN agar medium for callus proliferation. Thereafter embryogenic callus (1.5 cm2) was transferred to solid media (MS + 0.2 mg l−1 2,4-D + 5.0 mg l−1 BA + 3% sucrose + 0.7% agar). Somatic embryos produced shoots and roots, and shoots developed into complete plantlets on solid MS medium supplemented with 3.0 mg l−1 BA and 0.1 mg l−1 NAA. The relationship between the DW of suspension cultures and pH changes in medium is also discussed. The suspension cultures still kept their vitalities after subculture for 8 months.