Effect of Heavy Metals on Somatic Embryogenesis in Solanum melongena L.

Somatic embryogenesis by the addition of heavy metals like Zn and Cu individually and in combination with cadmium was studied at different levels of these metals in MS media supplemented with 10 mg/l NAA. Absence of these two micro essential elements (Zn & Cu), the media induced somatic embryos. The experiment was carried out to study the induction, maturation, germination and regeneration of induced embryos in relation to metals concentrations. Abnormal somatic embryo formation was noticed in some concentrations in the medium.