Fig. 1

Regeneration of plants by somatic embryogenesis from mature seeds of Magnolia obovata. a Fruits collected on 16 August 2007. Scale bar 5 cm. b Mature seeds from a fruit. Scale bar 2 cm. c PEMs induced after initial culture on MS basal medium that contained 1 μM GA₃ for 1 month and transfer to half-strength MS basal medium without GA₃ for 1 month. Scale bar 2 mm. d Globular-stage somatic embryos (arrowheads). Scale bar 100 μm. e Heart-stage somatic embryo. Scale bar 100 μm. f Torpedo-stage somatic embryo. Scale bar 100 μm. g Torpedo- and cotyledon-stage somatic embryos generated from PEMs. Scale bar 2 mm. h Mature somatic embryos derived from the torpedo- and cotyledon-stage embryos shown in g after 2 further weeks in culture. Scale bar 2 cm. i Germination from cotyledon-stage somatic embryos shown in h after a further 2 weeks in culture, with cotyledons and roots. Scale bar 2 cm. j Generation of plantlets from somatic embryos. Scale bar 2 cm. k Plantlets with secondary embryos at the base of the stem and the end of the root (arrowheads). Scale bar 2 cm