A plant regeneration system based on somatic embryogenesis was developed for the efficient clonal
propagation of Lomandra longifolia. Cultured leaf-bases, immature inflorescences and immature ovaries
of L. longifolia formed embryogenic calli, with subsequent somatic embryo induction upon subculture to
Murashige and Skoog (MS) agar medium supplemented with 2.0 mg L−1 2,4-diclorophenoxyacetic acid
(2,4-d), 500 mg L−1 casein hydrolysate, 100 mg L−1 myo-inositol, and 30 g L−1 sucrose. Of the three types
of explants, immature inflorescences and immature ovaries produced only embryogenic calli, whereas
leaf bases produced both embryogenic and non-embryogenic calli. Roottips cultured on 2,4-d-containing
media formed a tissue that did not form somatic embryos, but instead differentiated into shoot-buds.
Somatic embryo differentiation and plantlet regeneration occurred best from embryogenic calli on 2,4-dfree
basalmediumorMS basalmediumcontaining 1.0 mg L−1 NAAand0.1 mg L−1 BAP; andthe resultantin
vitro-formed plantlets were successfully transferred to soil. Morphological and anatomical data describing
development of calli and somatic embryos provided evidence for plant regeneration via somatic
embryogenesis and, most likely, single cell origin of somatic embryos.