Establishment of Suspension Culture System to Induce Somatic Embryo in Oplopanax elatus Nakai

This study was carried out to select the appropriate medium (especially, carbon and nitrogen source, potassium phosphate and pH) for somatic embryogenesis in order to develop the rapid mass production system in suspension culture of Oplopanax elatus Nakai. Direct somatic embryos were obtained from root explants in the hormone free suspension culture (MS). Combination of NH₄NO₃ and KNO₃ at the ratio of 1650 (㎎/ℓ ) : 1900 (㎎/ℓ ) obtained the better result to produce somatic embryo in suspension culture. MS medium supplemented with 170 ㎎/ℓ KH₂PO₄. The addition of 1 and 3% sucrose was effective for formation of embryogenic callus. Therefore, this report will be helped to improve the establishment for suspension culture in Oplopanax elatus Nakai.