Lectin levels in tissues of cultured immature wheat embryos.

Levels of wheat germ agglutinin have been determined by radioimmunoassay in tissues of immature wheat embryos cultured under different conditions in order to determine the suitability of the lectin as a marker for somatic embryogenesis. Embryos cultured on media favouring continued embryo development accumulated lectin in a similar manner to zygotic embryos in planta unless precocious germination occurred. Embryos cultured on media containing 2,4-D produced callus, and some of this developed somatic embryos. Both embryogenic and non-embryogenic callus contained WGA, that in non-embryogenic callus possibly arising from developmentally arrested root primordia.