Somatic Embryogenesis

The formation of embryos either directly, or by first passing through a callus stage, from cultured adult plant cells or protoplasts. LEAFY COTYLEDON2 gene controls proteins involved in somatic embryogenesis of Arabidopsis (Braybrook SA et al 2006 Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 103:3468). In about nine animal phyla, the germline is not separated from the somatic line, therefore gametes develop from the somatic cell lineage. The situation in protists and fungi is essentially similar. A strict germline does not exist in plants either. embryogenesis somatic, embryo culture, apomixis, germline; Sata SJ et al 2000 Methods Cell Sci 22:299.