This document summarizes research on producing synthetic seeds (encapsulated plant materials in a protective coating) for ten spice crops, including black pepper, ginger, cardamom, turmeric, cinnamon, camphor, vanilla, anise, lavender and sage. Shoot buds, somatic embryos and callus tissues from these crops were encapsulated in sodium alginate gel. The synthetic seeds were then stored for 4-10 months in water or nutrient solutions. The production of synthetic seeds provides a low-cost method for safe germplasm conservation and exchange of important spice crops.

1. Biouchnology ofSpices, Medicinal &
Aromatic Plants, pp. 65-69, 1997
Production of synthetic seeds in few spice crops
A SAJINA, D MINOO, S P GEETHA, K SAMSUDEEN, J REMA,
K NIRMAL BABU & P N RAVINDRAN
Indian Institute ofSpices Research,
Calicut-673 012, Kerala.
Abstract
'Synthetic seeds' have been proposed as a safe means for germplasm
conservation and exchange. Synthetic seeds were successfully
produced and stored upto four to ten months in some important spices
like black pepper, ginger, cardamom, turmeric, cinnamon, camphor,
vanilla and in some herbal spices like anise, lavender and sage by
encapsulating shoot buds, somatic embryos and regenerating calli in
sodium alginate gel matrix.
Key words: encapsulation, somatic embryos, spices, synseed.
Introduction
Synthetic seeds are developed by coat-
ing a tissue or an organ, which can
grow into a complete plant, alongwith
nutrients in an artificial film or cover-
ing. Production of artificial seeds or
'synthetic seeds', consisting of somatic
embryos or shoot buds enclosed in a
biodegradable protective coating, is a
low cost, high volume propagation sys-
tem. Artificial seed production using
different gelling agents has been dis-
cussed by Redenbaugh (1986). This pa-
per reports successful production of
'synseeds' of ten spices viz., black pep-
per, ginger, cardamom, turmeric, cinna-
mon, camphor, vanilla, anise, lavender
and sage and their storage.
Materials and methods
In vitro regenerated shoot buds, so-
matic embryos and regenerating calli
were used in the present study as
propagules for encapsulation.
The propagules were separated asepti-
cally and placed in a gel matrix con-
taining MS salts and sodium alginate
at different concentrations (3%, 4%, 5%
6% and 7%). The explants along with
the medium were dropped into a solu-
tion of calcium chloride (1.036 g/150 ml)
using a pipette or a glass tube. After 40
min the beads were recovered by de-
canting the CaCl2 solution and washed
in 3-4 changes of sterile water.
The synthetic seeds were stored in 250
ml flasks sealed with aluminium foil
and different media like sterile water,
MS basal medium with or without
growth regulators were used to soak
these seeds to avoid drying. The flasks

4. Fig, 1. Synthetic seeds in camphor
of yam germplasm using encapsulated
nodal segments. Gray & Compton
(993) reported the application of syn­
thetic seed technology to germplasm
conservation in grapes. This method of
alginate encapsulation Was used to de­
velop an encapsulation _ dehydration!
vitrification technique for cryopreserva_
tion ofgermplasm (Dereuddre, Blandin
& Hassen 1991a, 1991b; Niino &
Sakai 1992; Scotez et al. 1992; Paulet,
Engelmann & Glaszmann 1993;
Hatanaka et al. 1994; Fukai, Togasni &
Gor 1994).
The present report on production and
storage of synthetic seeds using differ­
ent explants has great relevance as this
Dsystem can be used as a disease free
plant propagation system and means
for conservation and exchange of
germplasm of spices. The encapsula_
tion of callus can be used as a system
for immobilisation of cells for the pro­
dUction of secondary metabolites from
cell cultures. Fe
References
Bapat V A, Mhatre M & Rao P S 1987
Propagation of Morus indica L.
(Mulberry) by encapsulated shoot
bUds. Plant Cell Reports 6:393­
395. FUk
Bapat V A & Rao P S 1988 Sandalwood

5. Fig. I. Synthetic seeds in camphor
of yam gennplasm using encapsulated
nodal segments. Gray & Compton
(1993) reported the application of syn­
thetic seed technology to germplasm
conservation in grapes. This method of
alginate encapsulation was used to de­
velop an encapsulation _ dehydrationl
vitrification technique for cryOpreserva_
tion ofgermplasm (Dereuddre, Blandin
& Hassen 1991a, 1991b; NUno &
Sakai 1992; Scotez et al. 1992; Paulet,
Engelmann & Glaszmann 1993;
Hatanaka et al. 1994; Fukai, Togasni &
Gor 1994).
The present report on production and
storage of synthetic seeds Using differ­
ent explants has great relevance as this
system can be used as a disease free
plant propagation system and means
for conservation and exchange of
germplasm of spices. The encapsula_
tion of callus can be used as a system
for immobilisation of cells for the pro­
duction of secondary metabolites from
cell cultures.
References
Bapat V A, Mhatre M & Rao P S 1987
Propagation of Morus indica L.
(Mulberry) by encapsulated shoot
bUds. Plant Cell Reports 6:393­
395. Fuka
Bapat V A & Rao P S 1988 Sandalwood
t
De
Fern
D