Artificial seeds, also known as synthetic seeds, involve the encapsulation of somatic embryos, shoot buds, or cell aggregates to propagate plants in vitro or ex vivo. They were first introduced in the 1970s and provide advantages like large-scale and low-cost propagation while maintaining genetic uniformity. Successful artificial seeds require an embryo-protective coating containing nutrients to support germination and growth. The coating material, embryo maturity, and encapsulation process can produce either desiccated or hydrated synthetic seeds. Common steps in artificial seed production involve establishing embryogenesis, encapsulating mature embryos, and field planting.

1. SUBMITTED TO SUBMITTED BY
Dr. GURUDAYAL R. GURU ANUGYA JAISWAL
17BSBIOTH009
BSc. (HONS.) BIOTECHNOLOGY
6TH SEMESTER

2. 
 Artificial encapsulation of somatic embryos, shoot bud or
aggregates of cell of any tissues which has the ability to form a
plant in in-vitro or ex-vivo condition.
 Artificial seed have also been often referred to as synthetic seed.
 The production of artificial seeds is useful for plants which do not
produce viable seeds. It represents a method to propagate these
plants.
 Artificial seeds are small sized and these provides further
advantages in storage, handling and shipping.
 The term, “EMBLING” is used for the plants originated from
synthetic seed.
INTRODUCTION

3. 
 Artificial seeds were first introduced in 1970’s as a novel analogue to
the plant seeds.
 The use of synthetic varieties for commercial cultivation was first
suggested in Maize (Hays & Garber, 1919).
 The first synthetic seeds of carrot produced by Kitto & Janick (1982)
involved many somatic embryo.
 In 1984 Redenbaugh et al. developed a technique for encapsulation
of single, hydrated SEs of alfalfa.
 McKersie and Bowley, 1993 SEs of alfalfa desiccated to 10-15%
could be stored at room temperature for I year without a decline in
their germinability.
HISTORY

4. 
 High volume, Large scale propagation method
 Maintains genetic uniformity of plants
 Direct delivery of propagules to the field, thus
eliminating transplants
 Lower cost per plantlet
 Rapid multiplication of plants
CHARACTERISTICS OF ARTIFICAIAL SEED

5. 
 Seed must be non-damaging to the embryo.
 The coating should be mild enough to protect the embryo and
allow germination
 It must be sufficiently durable for rough handling during
manufacture, storage, transportation and planting.
 The coat must contain nutrients, growth regulators, and other
components necessary for germination.
 The artificial seeds should be transplantable using existing farm
machinery.
 The somatic embryo must be of uniform stage of development &
able to undergo dormancy & conversion during transplanting.
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENT

6. 
 DESICCATED SYNTHETIC SEEDS – This synthetic
seeds are produced nacked or polyoxyethylene glycol
encapsulated somatic embryos. This type of synthetic
seeds is produced in desiccation tolerant species
plant.
 HYDRATED SYNTHETIC SEEDS – This synthetic seeds
are produced by encapsulating the somatic embryos
in hydrogels like sodium alginate, potassium alginate,
carrageenan, sodium pectate or sodium alginate with
gelatin.
TYPES OF ARTIFICIAL SEED

7. 
 Establish somatic embryogenesis
 Mature somatic embryos
 Synchronize and singulate somatic embryos
 Mass production of embryos
 Encapsulation of matured somatic embryos
 Desiccation
 Field planting
steps involved in artificial seeds production

8. 
 Equal volumes of embryo suspension and a 5% (w/v) solution of polyox were mixed to
give a final concentration of 2.5% polyox solution.
 The suspension was dispensed as 0.2 ml drops from a pipette on to Teflon sheets.
 Teflon sheets with seeds dried to wafers in a laminar flow hood till the wafer separate
from teflon sheets (about 5 h). Embryo survival and conversion of seeds are
determined
 By redissolving the wafers in embryogenic medium and culturing the rehydrated
embryos tested survival of seed & their germinability.
Formation OF DESSICATED SEED

9. 
Formation of hydrated seed
 The somatic embryo suspension in medium is mixed with equal volume of 2% (w/v)
solution of sodium alginate.
 The mixture is dropped with the help of pipette in 100mM solution of Ca(NO3)2 .
 As the drop of mixture with somatic embryo comes in contact with Ca(NO3)2, an
exchange reaction takes place & sodium ions are replaced by calcium ions forming
Ca-alginate, due to which surface complexing takes place & within 30 minutes gelling is
complete. Wet, shinning beads of synthetic seeds are formed.
 The size of seeds can be regulated by diameter of tip of pipette & hardness by
regulating the conc. Of Na alginate & Ca(NO3)2.

10. 
 Reduced costs of transplants.
 Large-scale mono cultures.
 Carriers for adjuvants such as microorganisms, plant growth regulators,
pesticides, fungicides, nutrients and antibiotics.
 Protection of meiotically-unstable, elite genotypes.
 Can be conceivably handled as seed using conventional planting
equipment
 Direct greenhouse and field delivery of:
• elite, select genotypes
• hand-pollinated hybrids
• genetically engineered plants
• sterile and unstable genotypes
application

11. 
 Comparative aid for zygotic embryogeny.
 Production of large numbers of identical
embryos.
 Mixed-genotype plantations.
 Determination of role of endosperm in embryo
development and germination.
 Study of seed coat formation.
 Study of somaclonal variation
Analytical tools

12. 
 Limited production of viable micropropagules that are
useful in synthetic seed producer
 Asynchrous development of somatic embryos
 Improper maturation of somatic embryos that makes
them inefficient for germination and conversion in to
normal plants
 Lack of dormancy and stress tolerance in somatic
embryos that limit the storage of synthetic seeds
 Somaclonal variations which may alter the genetic
constituent of the embryos
limitation