Production of synthetic seed involves encapsulating somatic embryos, shoot buds, or cell aggregates using tissue culture techniques. This allows for the large-scale, low-cost propagation of plants while maintaining genetic uniformity. Synthetic seeds can be stored longer than traditional seeds and planted directly in fields without the need for transplanting. While synthetic seeds have advantages over traditional micropropagation methods, their production and germination rates can still be limited for some plant species.

1. Production of Synthetic Seed

2. Introduction:
• Synthetic seed can be defined as the artificial encapsulation of somatic embryo,
shoot buds or aggregates of cell or any tissues which has the ability to form a
plant in in-vitro or ex vivo condition.
• Synthetic seeds can be stored for a long time in appropriate condition.
• Synthetic seed production and used technology is rapidly growing branch of seed
biotechnology.
• Toshio Murashige in 1970 first coined the term synthetic seed.
• Synthetic seed production requires the large scale production of viable plant
material in lab condition using invitro culture system.

3. What is seed?
• Botanically- Seed is a ripened ovule
• Genetically- Connecting link between two generations for transfer of traits
• Agriculturally- Any plant part with regeneration capacity
What is synthetic seed?
• Synthetic seeds are artificially encapsulated somatic embryos or other vegetative
parts such as shoot buds, cell aggregates, auxiliary buds, or any other
micropropagules which can be sown as a seed and converted into a plant under
in vitro or in vivo conditions

7. Production of Synthetic Seed:
• Explant is selected from choice of plant
• In a laboratory using tissue culture techniques callus is induced in the explants.
• Using tissue culture techniques somatic embryo is induced in the callus.
• Somatic embryo are proliferated
• Histodifferentiation and maturation of somatic embryo
• Desiccation and tolerance induction using tissue culture techniques.
• Encapsulation of somatic embryo
• Invitro germination or transported to field for germination.

12. Need for Synthetic seed production technology
• Characteristics of Clonal Propagation Systems
• Micropropagation
• Low volume, small scale propagation method
• Maintains genetic uniformity of plants
• Acclimatisation of plantlets required prior to field planting
• High cost per plantlet
• Relatively low multiplication rate
• Greenhouse cuttings
• Rooting of plantlets required prior to field planting
• Multiplication rate limited by mother plant size
• Artificial seeds
• High volume, large scale propagation method
• Direct delivery of propagules to the field, thus eliminating transplants
• Lower cost per plantlet
• Rapid multiplication of plants.

14. • Based on the techniques two types of synthetic seeds are produced such as desiccated
and hydrated.
•Desiccated synthetic seeds:
• Desiccated synthetic seeds are produced nacked or polyoxyethylene glycol
encapsulated somatic embryo.
• This type of synthetic seeds is produced in decciation tolerant species of plant.
•Hydrated synthetic seeds:
• Hydrated synthetic seeds are produced by encapsulating the somatic embryos in
hydrogels like sodium alginate, potassium alginate, carrageenan, sodium pectate or
sodium alginate with gelatine.
• Encapsulation or synthetic seed or artificial seed are used to provide protection to the
artificially produced propagules.
• Encapsulation technologies are used to produce artificial or synthetic seeds of species
belonging to angiosperm and gymnosperm families.

19. Applications of Synthetic Seeds:
Hybrid plants can be easily propagated using synthetic seed technology
Genetically modified plant or crops can be propagated using synthetic seed technology.
Endangered species can be propagated using synthetic seed technology.
Elite genotype can be preserved and propagated using artificial seed technology.
Synthetic seed production is cost effective when compared to traditional method.
Synthetic seeds can be directly used in fields
Genetic uniformity is maintained by using synthetic seed technology.
Synthetic seeds can be transported from one country to another without obligations
from quarantine department.
Cereals, fruits and medicinal plants can be studied anywhere in the world using
synthetic seeds.
Synthetic seed transportation is easy as these do not contain any disease causing
agents. As synthetic seeds are produced using sterile plant materials produced using
plant tissue culture techniques.

20. Synthetic seeds are small therefore they are easy to handle.
Synthetic seed encapsulation provides aseptic condition to the plant material or
explant, which is present inside the capsule.
While producing the synthetic seed encapsulation herbicides can be added to the
formulation, this herbicide will provide extra protection to the explants against
pests and diseases.
Synthetic seed plantation can be done by using the sowing farm machinery.
Synthetic seed crops are easy to maintain because of uniform genetic
constituent.
This technology improves the food production and also produces environment
friendly plantation.

21. Advantages of synthetic seeds
• This method is for large scale productions.
• It maintains genetic uniformity for a high number of generations. Most plant
tissue culture methods fail to maintain genetic uniformity for longer durations.
• According to literature, the costs of producing a plant using this technology is
low.
• It facilitates rapid multiplication of plants.
• One of the biggest merit of this method is direct delivery of plant parts
(protected with viable coating) to the field.
• These seeds have potential for short and medium term storage without losing
viability.
• As compared to plantlets, it is easy to handle and tranport synthetic seeds.

22. Disadvantages
• Somatic embryos have low survival rates for most plant species, which also limits the
value of synthetic seeds.
• There are not many protocols available to produce propagules from different plant
parts using plant tissue culture methods. Hence less useful material available for
producing synthetic seeds.
• In some cases, inefficient maturation of somatic embryos leads to poor germination and
hence poor growth and development.
• According to scientists, somatic embryos from some plants species are not capable of
germinating out of the capsule or coating. Hence, they are not able to form normal
plants rapidly.
• The concentration of coating material is also a limiting factor for producing synthetic
seeds. It should have nutrient supplementing materials for facilitating germination and
growth.
• When the shape of synthetic seeds is not matching the farm machinery then it is hard
to use them for transplantation. Hence, seeds should be transplantable.
• One of the major problems these seeds face is quick drying out of capsules. You need to
store them in a humid environment and coat them with hydrophobic materials to
prevent drying.