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From Stress to Embryos: Some of the Problems for Induction and Maturation of Somatic Embryos

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In Vitro Embryogenesis in Higher Plants

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1359))

Abstract

Although somatic embryogenesis has been successfully achieved in numerous plant species, little is known about the mechanism(s) underlying this process. Changes in the balance of growth regulators of the culture medium, osmolarity, or amino acids as well as the genotype and developmental stage of the tissue used as initial explant may have a pivotal influence on the induction of somatic embryogenic cultures. Moreover, different stress agents (ethylene, activated charcoal, cold or heat or electrical shocks), as well as abscisic acid, can also foster the induction or further development of somatic embryos. In the process, cells first return to a stem cell-like status and then either enter their new program or dye when the stress level exceeds cell tolerance. Recalcitrance to differentiation of somatic cells into embryos is frequently observed, and problems such as secondary or recurrent embryogenesis, embryo growth arrest (at the globular stage or during the transition from torpedo to cotyledonary stage), and development of only the aerial part of somatic embryos can appear, interfering with normal germination and conversion of embryos to plants. Some solutions to solve these problems associated to embryogenesis are proposed and two very efficient somatic embryogenesis protocols for two model plant species are detailed.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. INRA, CR de Dijon, UMR 1347 Agroécologie, BP 86510, Dijon Cedex, France

    Sergio J. Ochatt

  2. Departamento Biología de Organismos y Sistemas, Instituto de Biotecnología de Asturias, Universidad de Oviedo, 33006, Oviedo, Spain

    Maria Angeles Revilla

Authors
  1. Sergio J. Ochatt
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  2. Maria Angeles Revilla
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Correspondence to Sergio J. Ochatt .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento DEMETRA, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy

    Maria Antonietta Germana

  2. National Research Council (CNR) IVALSA/Istituto per la Valorizzazione, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy

    Maurizio Lambardi

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Ochatt, S.J., Revilla, M.A. (2016). From Stress to Embryos: Some of the Problems for Induction and Maturation of Somatic Embryos. In: Germana, M., Lambardi, M. (eds) In Vitro Embryogenesis in Higher Plants. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1359. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3061-6_31

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3061-6_31

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-3060-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-3061-6

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