In vitro regeneration of four cultivars of carnation namely ‘Nelson’, ‘Impulse’, ‘Sagres’ and ‘Spitit’ through somatic embryogenesis was studied. MS culture medium was supplemented with 30 gl^-1 sucrose, 2 mgl^-1 2,4-D and 0.2 mgl^-1 BA and used for embryogenic callus formation. Somatic embryos were formed when embryogenic callus was transferred to MS medium without growth regulators containing 30 g/l^-1 sucrose alone or supplemented with different concentrations of mannitol (15, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 gl^-1). No somatic embryo was formed on culture media containing mannitol without sucrose. Number of somatic embryos produced from embryogenic calli significantly increased by adding mannitol to the culture media. Normal embryos formed on culture media containing high concentrations of mannitol (60, 90, 120 and 150 gl^-1) developed normally. About 95% of somatic embryos transferred to the1/2 MS culture medium containing 30 gl^-1 sucrose, germinated into plantlets. Plantlets also continued their growth under greenhouse conditions.

Keywords: Carnation, Embryogenic callus, Somatic embryo, Mannitol.

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