Somatic embryo culture for propagation,artificial seed production,and conservation of sawara cypress (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Chamaecyparis pisifera</Emphasis> Sieb. et Zucc.)

 Somatic embryogenesis in Chamaecyparis pisifera Sieb. et Zucc. was initiated from immature seeds collected from the end of June to early July. Mass propagation through adventitious shoot bud production from somatic embryo culture on Woody Plant (WP) medium and artificial seed production using sodium alginate was achieved. A high bud forming index value (25.8) was obtained on medium supplemented with 1 μM 6-benzylaminopurine. The conversion rates from artificial seeds under aseptic and nonaseptic conditions were 60%–100% and 10%–12%, respectively. For germplasm conservation, somatic embryos and embryogenic cells were successfully stored at 4°C (medium-term storage) and in liquid nitrogen for long-term storage. Received: December 21, 2001 / Accepted: August 1, 2002 Acknowledgments This work was supported in part by the Japan Science and Technology Corporation and in part by a Grant for Research for the Future Program from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Correspondence to:E. Maruyama