Abstract

The Korean fir (Abies koreana E. H. Wilson), an endemic species of the Korean Peninsula and an indicator of climate change, is facing severe population decline owing to rising temperatures and drought. Its extremely low natural germination rate limits the effectiveness of traditional propagation methods, emphasizing the need for alternative conservation strategies. This study investigated the effects of collection site and location of immature embryos within the cone on callus induction success for in vitro propagation. Immature embryos were collected from four sites on Hallasan Mountain, sterilized, and plated on a culture medium. A chi-square test was performed to analyze the relationship between callus formation, collection site, and embryo position. Callus formation was successfully induced in embryos collected from the Witse Oreum and Nambyeok-Baengnokdam sites, with the Nambyeok-Baengnokdam samples showing a significantly higher success rates. A statistically significant relationship was also found between callus formation and embryo position within the cone, with embryos from the top and middle sections exhibiting higher rates of callus formation than those from the bottom section. These results indicate that both the health of the parent tree at the collection site and the physiological gradient within the cone are crucial factors for successful callus induction. Our findings provide a scientific basis for establishing effective in vitro propagation protocols and conservation strategies for this endangered species.