Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences1028-88801812-5735Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/pjbs.2007.3564.3570SheibaniM. AzghandiA. V.NematiS. H.1220071020In vitro propagation of saffron either through somatic embryogenesis or cormogenesis is considered to be an efficient alternative method for large-scale propagation of pathogen-free corms. In order to develop an efficient protocol for in vitro propagation of saffron, a factorial experiment was carried out based on completely randomized design to investigate the effects of various concentrations of TDZ (0, 0.1, 0.25 and 0.5 mg L-1) on somatic embryogenesis induction from 5 different types of corm explants (terminal or axillary buds, upper or lower parts of the corm tissue and terminal buds from pre-treated corms at 4°C for 2 weeks). The results revealed that TDZ concentrations affected the induction of somatic embryogenesis significantly while different types of corm explants showed no significant effect on this process. Among TDZ concentrations used, 0.5 mg L-1 was the most effective treatment for embryogenesis induction. Embryogenic calli (globular stage) proliferated well when subcultured into MS medium supplemented with 0.25 mg L-1 TDZ before transferring to hormone-free MS medium containing 6% sucrose for maturation (scutellar or horn-shape stage). Matured embryos were transferred to half strength MS medium without growth regulators for further development, from which microcorms were produced at the basal part after 3 months.]]>Aguero, C. and R. Tizio,1994In vitro mass bulbification as a preliminary contribution to saffron (Crocus sativus L.) micropropagation.]]>185563Alvarez-Orti, M., T. Schwarzacher, A. Rubio, S. Blazquez, A. Piqueras, J.A. Fernandez and P. Harrison,2004Crocus sativus L.).]]>650155163Anonymous,2003-20042003-2004Belokurova, V.B., L.S. Glovach, N.L. Shcherbak and N.V. Kuchuk,2004In vitro regeneration of Nicotiana africana plants from explants of different type and mesophyll protoplasts.]]>38915Bhagyalakshmi, N.,199958205211Blasquez, S., A. Piqueras, C. Rubio and J.A. Fernandez,2001Crocus sativus) corms.]]>3720362036Blasquez, S., E. Olmos J.A. Hernandez, E. Hellin, J.A. Fernandez and A. Piqueras,2004Crocus sativus): Morphological differentiation and the role of the antioxidant enzymatic system.]]>650261267Blazquez, S., A. Piqueras, M.D. Serna, J.L. Casas and J.A. Fernandez,2004650269276Caramori, L.P.C., S. Favaro and L.G.E. Vieira,2001Gossypium hirsutum L.).]]>2311951197Chen, J.T. and W.C. Chang,2004Phalaneopsis amabilis Var. Formosa shimadzu.]]>24290293Cheong, E. and M.R. Pooler,2004Prunus incise cv. February pink.]]>22810815Corredoria, E., A. Ballester and A.M. Vieitez,200392129136Deng, M.D. and D. Cornu,199228195202Ebrahimzadeh, H., R. Karamian and M.R. Noori-Daloii,1996In vitro regeneration of shoot and corm from the different explants of Crocus sativus L.]]>717Ebrahimzadeh, H. and T. Rajabian,1998Crocus sativus L.) through in vitro production of microcorms.]]>389193Finer, J.J.,19941994pp: 99-125pp: 99-125Giridhar, P., V. Kumar, E.P. Indu, G.A. Ravishankar and A. Chandrasekar,2004Coffea arabica L. and Coffea canephora Pex Fr.]]>632533Haensch, K.T.,2004Pelargonium H domesticum and its histological analysis.]]>23211217Homes, J., M. Legros and M. Jaziri,1987In vitro multiplication of Crocus sativus L.]]>11675676Huang, S.Y.,1987Crocus sativus L.]]>11675676Hutchinson, M.J., S. Krishnaraj and P.K. Saxena,1996Plargonium H Hortorum Bailey) hypocotyl cultures.]]>154440446Kafi, M.,2002pp: 69-94pp: 69-94Karamian, R.,20002000Karamian, R.,2004Crocus specie.]]>650253259Khan, H., I. Siddique and M. Anis,2006Capsicum annum.]]>50789792Kiran, G., C.D. Kaviraj, G. Jogeswar, P.B. Kavi Kishor and S. Rao,2005Cicer arietinum L.), a grain legume.]]>8910121018Komatsuda, T. and K. Ohyama,1988Glycine max).]]>75695700Mithila, J., J.C. Hall, J.M. Victor and P.K. Saxena,2003Saintpaulia ionantha Wendl.).]]>21408414Mollafilabi, A.,20022002Mundhara, R. and A. Rashid,2006Vigna radiata, mung bean, made to regenerate on change of hormonal and cultural conditions.]]>85265270Murashige, T. and F. Skoog,196215473497Panaia, M., T. Senaratna, K.W. Dixon and Sivasithamparam,2004Restionaceae.]]>52257265Pence, V.C.,1992in vitro.]]>9813911395Piqueras, A., B.H. Han, J. Escribano, C. Rubio, E. Hellin and J.A. Fernandez,199919603610Plessner, O., M. Ziv and M. Negbi,1990In vitro corm production in the saffron Crocus (Crocus sativus L.).]]>208994Plessner, O. and M. Ziv,1999In vitro Propagation and Secondary Metabolite Production in Crocus sativus L.]]>1999pp: 137-148pp: 137-148Sharma, V.K., R. Hansch, R. Mendel and J. Schulze,2005Hordeum vulgare L.).]]>5619131922Sharma, V.K., R. Hansch, R.R. Mendel and J. Schulze,2005124242246Visser, C., J.A. Qureshi, G. Ravinder and P.K. Saxena,19929917041707Zhang, C.L., D.F. Chen, M.C. Elliott and A. Slater,2001Beta vulgaris L.).]]>37305310