Horticulture (Fruit science) Biotechnology of fruit crops

1. ARTIFICIAL
SEED/SYNTHETIC SEED

2. • Definition
• Artificial seed is living seed like structure which are made
experimentally by technique where somatic embryoid derived
from plant tissue culture.
• Types of Artificial Seed –
• a) Hydrated seed
• b) Desiccated seed

3. • 1.) Hydrated Artificial Seed –
• Somatic embryos induced in appropriate nutrient medium is mixed
with sodium alginate (0.5-5%) . Then embryo loaded sodium alginate
is dropped in to a solution of calcium chloride (30-100 min ) drop by
drop. Each droplets form calcium alginate capsule around each
embryo within 10-60 min .Excess calcium ions removed by rinsing of
water.
• 2.) Desiccated Artificial Seed –
• Desiccated synthetic seed are coated with a water soluble resin
polyethylene oxide S E suspension is mixed with equal volumes of
5% solutions of polyethylene oxide, with subsequently dried from
polyembryonic desiccated wafers. The survival of the encapsulated
embryos was further achieved by embryo hardening treatment with
12% Sucrose followed by chilling at inoculums density.

4. • Steps for making Artificial Seed –
• 1) Establishment of callus culture.
• 2) Induction of somatic embryogenesis in callus culture.
• 3) Maturation of somatic embryos.
• 4) Encapsulation of somatic embryos.
• ( After encapsulation the artificial seeds are tested by two steps
)
• 1) Test for embryoid to plant conversion. 2) Green house and
field Planting.

6. Applications / Importance
1) seed propagation of sterile plants.
2) High efficiency in multiplication.
3) Fixation of hybrid vigour, eleminate the need of inbred lines to
produce F1 hybrids.
4) Elimination of the need of edible seeds or tubers for propagation
5) Multiplication of Genetically engineered individuals, which may be
sterile and unstable during sexual production.
6) Production of virus and disease free plants.
7) Protection of seedlings by encorporating useful chemicals in the
encapsulation material.
8) provide the advantages of true seed (case of handling and
transportation) for vegetative propagation.

7. Limitations
• 1) Large scale production of high quality somatic embryos is a
costly affair
• 2) Poor germination of synthetic seeds due to lack of supply of
nutrients, sufficient oxygen, microbe invasion and mechanical
damage of somatic embryos.
• 3) Occurrence of somaclonal variation.
• 4) Special skills are required to carry out the work.

8. Problems
• 1. Artificial seeds that are stable for several months requires the
procedures for making the embryos quiescent.
• 2. Artificial seeds need to be protected against desiccation.
• 3. Recovery of plants from Artificial seed is often very low due to
incomplete embryo formation or difficulties in creating an
artificial endosperm.
• 4. The embryo must be protected against microorganisms

9. Natural Seeds Synthetic Seeds
• Hard seed coat present.
• Embryos are much protected protected within
cotyledons or endosperm.
• Embryos undergo controlled dessication by the
maternal tissue and have a natural dormancy
period.
• The Natural seeds have their own storage reserves
like endosperm or cotyledons to provide food
during Germination.
• No seed coat only capsulated
• Embryos are not protected within any kind of
Maternal Tissue.
• Embryos do not pass through any kind of
Dessication and they do not have any dormancy
period.
• The artificial seeds do not have their own storage
tissue, the nutrients or growth regulators can be
supplied within the encapsulating material.

10. THANK YOU