Somatic embryogenesis is the process by which somatic cells, under induction conditions, generate embryogenic cells, which go through a series of morphological and biochemical changes that result in the formation of a somatic embryo.
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Recent Advances of Somatic Embryo
Production
Antre Suresh H.
PALB 8086
1st Yr. Ph. D.
Plant Biotechnology
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Somatic embryogenesis is the process by which somatic cells, under
induction conditions, generate embryogenic cells, which go through a
series of morphological and biochemical changes that result in the
formation of a somatic embryo.
Somatic Embryo (SE)
Embryo is derived from a somatic cell and the process known somatic
embryogenesis.
3. 2/8/2019 3Francisco et al., 2006 I Plant Cell Tiss Organ Cult
Callus
Somatic Embryogenesis
4. 2/8/2019 4Garcia et al., 2018
Overview of SE
Recent Advances . . ?
Media modification
Culture environment
Recovery
Support system
Explant
Selection SE
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This is the first detailed report describing the
establishment of cocoa embryogenic cell lines and
their growth kinetics in liquid medium.
The main points necessary to succeed
At the beginning of the process, the primary embryos
used as explants must be taken at the torpedo-stage
to obtain HFSE callus
Particular attention must be focused on the
inoculation densities of the suspensions, as in the
case of Robusta coffee
Supplementing the expression medium with myo-inositol used as an
osmotic agent at a concentration of 50 g L−1 increased the embryo-to-
plantlet conversion rate from 13 –16% to 40–48%.
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Thompson Seedless (TS)Delicious (Del-HS)
4 mM
6benzylaminopurine
0.5 mM 1-naphthaleneacetic acid
Identified culture media and conditions that promoted embryo differentiation and plant conversion
Chée & Pool (C2D) Vitis Medium
Highlights
Significant recovery of plants based on timed application of
optimized media.
Dramatically reduces the time required for plant recovery from
6–12 months to 2.5 months.
Robust and vigorous shoot and root systems
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• Cork oak (Quercus suber L.)
1. Overcoming problems related to traditional procedures like plant tissue
hyperhydricity
2. Partial automation of cultures
3. Reduction of costs
4. Uniform contact between the inoculum and culture medium.
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TIS was applied only during the proliferation following
the somatic embryogenesis induction phase.
Culture medium (without agar) and growth conditions
were the same as for the proliferation phase in semisolid
medium.
Temporary immersions were performed in RITA
bioreactors (15 X 13 cm, 1 L volume) with 200 mL of liquid
medium.
Temporary immersion system (TIS)
The temporary immersion system is mainly based on the contact of plant tissue
with culture medium by certain cycles of immersion, avoiding the problems of
hyperhydricity, malformed embryos, and low conversion rates, which occur in
continuous immersion systems.
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Developmental Stages
Embryogenic calli Somatic embryo clusters with
repetitive embryogenesis
Translucent,
immature
cotyledonary
somatic embryos
White opaque, mature
cotyledonary somatic
embryos
TIS
Control culture on
semi-solid
medium
Immersion cycle 1
min every 12 h
Immersion cycle 1 min
every 6 h
Immersion cycle 1 min
every 4 h
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The first to report somatic embryogenesis (SE) based on a plant regeneration protocol for
blackberry.
It uses transverse thin cell layer technique (tTCL).
Two Iranian blackberry genotypes- explants nodal sagment
‘High prickle’ (Rubus sanctus)
‘Low prickle’ (Rubus hirtus)
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From tTCL preparation to callus proliferation
Different stages of somatic embryogenesis in tTCL
explants
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Process Patent
Labor intensive step in the embryogenesis process
Those that are most likely to successfully germinate into normal plants are
preferentially selected using a number of visually evaluated screening criteria.
Fig. 2 Schematic representation of somatic embryogenesis. Although both direct and indirect somatic embryogenesis embryos can derive from single or various cells, the latter seems to yield an embryo fused to the maternal tissue by its basal part whereas an embryo resulting from a
single cell is connected to the maternal tissue by a suspensor-like structure. Photos are from author’s laboratory
correspond to DSE in Coffea canephora (upper) and ISE in Coffea arabica (lower). Based on Williams and Maheswaran (1986)
The different steps for Theobroma cacao L. propagation by high frequency somatic embryogenesis (HFSE). (a) Induction of primary SE (PSE, primary somatic embryos; LFSE, low frequency somatic embryogenesis calluses; NEC, non-embryogenic calluses); (b) induction of HFSE callus (SSE, secondary somatic embryos; LFSE, low frequency somatic embryogenic calluses); (c) multiplication: embryogenic clumps in liquid medium; (d) expression: an embryo population at the end of the step; (e) germination: plantlets in germination boxes; (f) normal plantlets; (g) abnormal plantlets.
Visual representation of the somatic embryogenesis system for grape. Depending on grape genotype, several different types of
explants may be utilized to initiate embryogenic cultures, including shoot tips and leaves, stamens or pre-existing SEs. Embryogenic cell masses
composed of proembryonal complexes are isolated from callusing explants. Cell masses produce SEs, which can be encouraged to germinate
and develop into plants. The germination-to-plant step typically is very poor, which was dramatically improved by this study. It is at the stage of
SE maturation (red arrows) that they may be utilized as targets for Agrobacterium-mediated gene insertion due to the abundance of totipotent
cells on their hypocotyl and cotyledon surfaces. Utilizing the GFP gene as a visible marker, abundant transient GFP-expressing cells occur. Stable
modified embryogenic lines are recovered, from which are obtained non-chimeric, genetically modified plants. GFP, green fluorescent protein.
SE germination and plant development using a two-step culture procedure. (a) SE post-germinative growth on various germination
media. Bar53 cm. (b) Plantlets obtained after culture first on C2D4B medium and then MSNmedium in GA7 vessels. Bar marks an actual length of
3 cm. (c) A large number of transgenic ‘Del-HS’ plants established in the greenhouse. Plants in background on the adjacent bench were SEderived
‘TS’ plants.
Fig. 6 Schematic diagram representing the course of the newly described somatic embryogenesis process for C. delgadii: commencing
with spores, passing through the gametophyte stage, followed by induction of zygotic and somatic embryogenesis and finally, the production of mature plantlets initially grown in vitro and later under ex vitro conditions. SE somatic embryogenesis, initial explants are shown in red (color figure online)
Temporary immersion systems (TIS) are an alternative to semi-solid or liquid culture
Explant- Immature acorns
Fig. 2 Embryogenic cultures of cork oak after one multiplication cycle of 30 days in temporary immersion system (TIS) under different
immersion frequencies and on semi-solid medium.
The cellular fate of embryogenic cultures was also affected by the immersion frequency, 1 min every 6 h was the best for mass propagation of proliferative developmental stages (embryogenic calli and embryo clusters) while 1 min every 4 h promoted the formation of single, fully developed cotyledonary embryos.
Fig. 1 From tTCL preparation to callus proliferation: a, b tTCL size (0.5 mm in thickness); c phenol secretion and
dead of explants; d callus induction on dermal and central parts; e callus proliferation of dermal and central parts
Fig. 4 Different stages of somatic embryogenesis in tTCL explants of Rubus and histological sections of these stages; a embryogenic callus
with globular structure(Gl); b sections of globular embryos on the surface of a tTCL embryogenic callus; c heart-stage (Hs) of somatic
embryo; d section of heart-shaped somatic embryo; e torpedo-shaped embryo with root primordium; f section of torpedo-shaped embryo
with root primordia (Rp) and cotyledons (Ct); g germinated and growth of embryos; h section of shoot vascular tissue (Vs); i normal plantlet growth from embryo on half strength MS medium containing 4.88 μM BA, 2.02 μM GA and 0.05 μM NAA; leaf (L), shoot (S), Root (R)