Regeneration in Alfalfa Tissue Culture: Characterization of Intracellular pH During Somatic Embryo Production by Solid-State P-31 NMR.

The composition of phosphorus-containing compounds of intact lyophilized alfalfa tissue has been determined, in part, by solid-state (31)P nuclear magnetic resonance. The tissue (Medicago sativa L., cv Regen S; and some of its crosses) was grown in culture under both nonregenerating and regenerating conditions, the latter enhanced by the addition of specific amino acids. Analysis of the (31)P nuclear magnetic resonance spectra shows that regeneration is favored when metabolism occurs without the production of a low average intracellular pH.