Somatic Embryogenesis from In Vitro Grown Leaf Explants of Rosa hybrida L.

Somatic embryogenesis was initiated from in vitro grown leaf explants of rose following an induction period of four weeks on MS basal medium supplemented with auxin and several subcultures on MS medium with cytokinin. '4th of July' showed the highest regeneration frequencies on 1 mg/L NAA followed by culture on medium with 4 mg/L zeatin. The embryogenic callus was propagated on MS medium with NAA, zeatin and $GA_3$. Germination of somatic embryos was achieved on MS medium with 1 mg/L BA. Somatic embryo derived plantlets were hardened and successfully transferred to the greenhouse.