Abstract: Embryogenic cultures were initiated from mature zygotic embryos of masson pine (Pinus massoniana Lamb. ) on DCR medium supplemented with 2, 4-D 10 mg/L, KT and BA each at 4 mg/L. Pale and translucent calli with early stage proembryos were maintained and multiplicated on DCR medium supplemented with 2, 4-D 1.0 mg/L KT and BA each at 0.4 mg/L. Robust late-stage proembryos were obtained when the calli were cultured on DCR medium containing 9000 mg/L myo-inositol. Abscisic acid and activated charcoal promoted the formation of cotyledonary embryos at the highest frequency of 35.1 %. Mature somatic embryos could germinate and develop further into plantlets when they were isolated and cultured on a hormone-free DCR medium.

Key words: Pinus rnassoniana, Mature zygotic embryos, Somatic embryogenesis, Plantlet regeneration