Plant Regeneration and Somatic Embryogenesis in Amaryllis, Hippeastrum Hybrids, and H. papilio

Five Hippeastrum hybrid genotypes, Christmas Gift (CG), Royal Velvet (RV), Lemon Sorbet (LS), Orange Sovereign (OS), Red Lion (RL), and one genotype of H. papilio, Papilio Butterfly (PB) were tested in tissue culture for micropropagation. Flower buds and the basal and upper parts of bulb scales were used as explants for in vitro culture. Organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis were observed with all six genotypes. Direct shoot regeneration was induced from the basal parts of bulb scales of all genotypes. Shoot regeneration was induced from the upper part of scales with 5 genotypes (CG, RV, OS, RV, and LS) and from the flower buds of 3 genotypes (OS, CG and LS). Therefore, basal and upper parts of bulb scales and flower buds are all ideal explants to regenerate shoots or somatic embryos for micropropagation.  Calli were induced from all 3 explants and embryogenic calli were carefully selected for further somatic embryogenesis and shoot multiplication.