Vegetative propagation of Quercus suber L. by somatic embryogenesis. I. Factors affecting the induction in leaves from mature cork oak trees.

Somatic embryogenesis was induced in expanding leaves from epicormic shoots forced to sprout from segments of branches collected from several hundred-year-old cork oak trees. Following a basic protocol previously defined for leaves taken from seedlings of this species, several factors were studied to improve the response. The induction frequency was significantly higher when the length of exposure to growth regulators was increased from 7 to 30 days. The combined application of NAA and BAP was essential for induction. Although both regulators had a very significant influence, their interaction was not significant, suggesting independent roles. Leaf size had a crucial effect, because beyond a certain threshold, embryogenesis could not be obtained. Embryogenic lines were maintained via repetitive embryogenesis on hormone-free medium for more than 2 years.