Rapid Somatic Embryogenesis and Plant Regeneration in American Ginseng: Effete of Auxins and Explants

The efficacy of three auxins, viz. 2,4-0, NAA and dicamba, were compared for the induction of somatic embryogenesis in American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium L.). Somatic embryos (SEs) formed on ginseng cotyledonary, zygotic embryo and shoot explants after 8 weeks of induction by the auxin stimuli. Significantly more somatic embryos were induced by culture of any of the ginseng explants on media supplemented with $5{\mu}M$ 2,4-0 than any other auxin treatment. Shoots derived from somatic embryos had the greatest regenerative potential and zygotic embryos the least. Explants generated from green (unstratified) seeds gave similar or higher frequency of embryogenesis as the explants derived from stratified seeds. Histological and SEM studies confirmed that the regenerimts were somatic embryos. Somatic embryos germinated and developed into normal plants in $3\~6$ months. About $10\%$ of plantlets from second generation SEs formed flowers within 10 weeks, particularly on media supplemented with $GA_3$ The development of a regeneration system for ginseng through somatic embryogenesis is a necessary first step for mass propagation and genetic improvement of American ginseng.