SUMMARY
In order to investigate the effect of light on the tissue culture of lavender (Lavandula vera L.) and wall germander (Teucrium chamaedrys L.), leaf explants from greenhouse-grown plants were inoculated on a Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium (1) supplemented with 1 mg L−1 2,4-D and 2 mg L−1 kinetin and incubated either (i) continuously in the darkness for 6 weeks or (ii) first in the darkness for 0–5 weeks and then under illumination (150 μmol mr−2 s−1, 16 hour light/8 hour dark photoperiod). Lavender callus growth was improved under increased incubation in darkness while somatic embryogenesis was remarkably reduced under the same conditions. Incubation in darkness did not affect the growth of wall germander cultures, but improved somatic embryogenesis. Moreover, a possible participation of boron in the effect of light on somatic embryogenesis for both species was indicated.