Abstract

Pitipong Thobunluepop

Synthetic seed consisting of somatic embryos enclosed in protective coating are a suitable tool for clonal mass propagation of elite plant varieties. The in vitro study was aimed to evaluate the optimizing medium for sweet corn somatic embryogenesis, synthetic seed production which leads to increasing germination and seed viability percentage. The in vitro study was aimed to evaluate the optimizing medium for sweet corn somatic embryogenesis, synthetic seed production which leads to increasing germination and seed viability percentage. Sweet corn (Zea mays var. saccharata) variety FAH01 embryogenic callus were derived from culturing immature zygotic embryos at 11 days after pollination on N6 medium that contained 2, 4- D 2 mgl-1 and sucrose 60 gl-1. Somatic embryos was developed after transferred embryogenic callus to N6 medium contained with 2 mgl-1 2, 4- D and 30 gl-1 sucrose. Sweet corn synthetic seed was produced by somatic embryos encapsulated into a protective calcium -alginate matrix with provides mechanical support, protection and is coated with a wax film to prevent desiccation. Synthetic seed were produced, it was found that when synthetic seed were treated with 60 gl-1 sucrose and stored at 15 ± 2 degree Celsius for 2 weeks, the percentage of germination of synthetic seeds were 42%, percentage of normal seedling was 91% and abnormal seedling was 8%, and they germinated for 8 - 9 days and could produce normal plantlet. When the synthetic seed were dehydrated by silica gel until remained 60% of their moisture content and then stored for 2 weeks, they could germinated at level 23%, which 83% of normal seedling and 17% of abnormal seedling. The survival ratio in sweet corn synthetic seed in this investigation indicated that there is still some more research required to increase number of the survival seeds and the optimum storage technique to prolong their viability is also needed