Zygotic Embryo Culture

Abstract

The zygote (fertilized egg), through a series of well-defined developmental stages, forms an embryo (Fig. 11.1), the progenitor of the next generation. Several physical and chemical factors regulate the growth and development of the embryo. The surrounding tissues, especially the endosperm, also control the predetermined pattern of embryo development. Any disturbance in these factors causes abnormalities and, in extreme cases, abortion of the embryo. In vitro culture of excised zygotic embryos at different stages of development has provided useful information on the developmental and physiological aspects of embryogenesis. Embryo culture is one of the in vitro techniques which found a practical application even before it was well established. It is now being routinely used to produce rare hybrids which could not be produced by the conventional method of hybridization due to post-zygotic sexual incompatibility. This chapter describes the technique of embryo culture, its importance in understanding the physiological and developmental aspects of embryogenesis and, finally, its applied aspects.