Abstract
Somatic embryogenesis is a developmental process where a plant somatic cell can dedifferentiate to a totipotent embryonic stem cell that has the ability to give rise to an embryo under appropriate conditions. This new embryo can further develop into a whole plant. In woody plants, somatic embryogenesis plays a critical role in clonal propagation and is a powerful tool for synthetic seed production, germplasm conservation, and cryopreservation. A key step in somatic embryogenesis is the transition of cell fate from a somatic cell to embryo cell. Although somatic embryogenesis has already been widely used in a number of woody species, propagating adult woody plants remains difficult. In this review, we focus on molecular mechanisms of somatic embryogenesis and its practical applications in economic woody plants. Furthermore, we propose a strategy to improve the process of somatic embryogenesis using molecular means.
Highlights
OF SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS IN PLANTSIn flowering plants, the process of double fertilization involves a haploid sperm fertilizing a haploid egg cell to form a diploid zygote
We focus on molecular mechanisms of somatic embryogenesis and its practical applications in economic woody plants
The application of somatic embryogenesis in a wide range of woody plants is limited by genotypic influences, poor germination of somatic embryos, and limited numbers of explants (Isah, 2016)
Summary
Forestry and Fruit Tree Research Institute, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China. Somatic embryogenesis is a developmental process where a plant somatic cell can dedifferentiate to a totipotent embryonic stem cell that has the ability to give rise to an embryo under appropriate conditions. This new embryo can further develop into a whole plant. Somatic embryogenesis plays a critical role in clonal propagation and is a powerful tool for synthetic seed production, germplasm conservation, and cryopreservation. We focus on molecular mechanisms of somatic embryogenesis and its practical applications in economic woody plants. We propose a strategy to improve the process of somatic embryogenesis using molecular means
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