Source Year: 1996

Various culture parameters were tested with Hevea brasiliensis to stimulate the friability of callus without altering its embryogenic capacity. An imbalance in the auxin/cytokinin balance in the culture medium promotes acquisition of friability to the detriment of meristematic activity. On the other hand high concentrations of Ca or saccharose prroduce friable callus composed essentially of embryogenic and pro-embryonic cells. Friable callus was obtained with 3 clones of Hevea, PB 260, PR 107 and GT1, on an Ca-enriched medium, making it possible to grow suspended cultures. During several months of maintenance, these cultures can regenerate somatic embryos and plantlets when transplanted on a solid medium of compact cellular aggregates.