Enhanced post-germinative growth of encapsulated somatic embryos of Siberian ginseng by carbohydrate addition to the encapsulation matrix.

This experiment was carried out to enhance conversion and ex vitro survival of encapsulated somatic embryos of Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus). Cotyledonary somatic embryos were encapsulated with 3.0% sodium alginate; 96% of the encapsulated embryos converted to plantlets with well-elongated epicotyls in Perlite containing sucrose as a carbon source. However, although they germinated, post-germinative growth of encapsulated embryos was suppressed on Perlite that did not contain sucrose. Instead of sucrose addition to Perlite, addition of carbon sources to the encapsulation matrix enhanced post-germinative growth of encapsulated embryos. In the encapsulation matrix with 2% sucrose, post-germinative growth of encapsulated embryos was more than twice (23.5%) that of the control capsules without sucrose (10.0%). Embryos encapsulated with both 2% sucrose and 1% starch powder showed the highest post-germinative growth percentage (42.1%). Iodine staining and analysis of starch content in the encapsulation matrix revealed that starch in the encapsulation matrix decomposed during embryo germination. This result indicates that carbohydrate treatment in the encapsulation matrix enhanced post-germinative growth of encapsulated embryos of Siberian ginseng.