Somatic seeds: encapsulation of asexual plant embryos

• Published in: Bio/Technology 1986-09, Vol.4 (9), p.797-801
• Main Authors: Redenbaugh, Keith, Paasch, Brian D, Nichol, James W, Kossler, Mary E, Viss, Peter R, Walker, Keith A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agriculture; Agronomy; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; apium graveolens; Bioinformatics; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedical Engineering/Biotechnology; Biomedicine; Biotechnology; brassica; desarrollo embrionario; developpement embryonnaire; embrion; embryo; embryon; embryonic development; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetic engineering applications; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; germinacion; germination; graine; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Life Sciences; medicago sativa; Plant breeding: fundamental aspects and methodology; research-paper; seeds; Seeds and other planting stocks; semilla
• ISSN: 0733-222X; 1087-0156; 2331-3684; 1546-1696
• DOI: 10.1038/nbt0986-797

Somatic embryos (SE) of alfalfa, celery, and cauliflower were encapsulated as single–embryo beads approximately four millimeters in diameter to produce individual somatic (artificial) seeds. The SE were mixed in sodium alginate and dropped into a solution of calcium chloride to form calcium alginate beads via an ion exchange reaction. For our two best somatic embryogenesis systems, alfalfa and celery, in vitro germination frequencies with production of seedling–quality plants were routinely 30% and 65%, respectively. In addition, encapsulated alfalfa and celery SE developed into plants in sand trays or in transplant plugs at frequencies of 7% and 10%. The production of seedling–quality plants from individual somatic seeds, as first reported here, has potential as a novel, universal delivery system.