Acetylsalicylic acid enhances and synchronizes thidiazuron-induced somatic embryogenesis in geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum Bailey) tissue cultures.

Thidiazuron (TDZ) effectively induced somatic embryogenesis in cultured hypocotyl explants of geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum Bailey) during only a 3-day period of induction. The presence of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) during this period caused a two-fold increase in the number of somatic embryos and enhanced synchronization of embryo development compared to the TDZ treatment alone. Salicylic acid was ineffective in modulating similar embryogenic responses as ASA. The ASA-induced enhancement and synchronization of somatic embryogenesis could possibly be used as an experimental system to study the interplay of growth regulators in somatic embryogenesis.