Effects of various partial pressures of oxygen and carbon dioxide on different stages of somatic embryogenesis in Picea abies

Abstract

Effects of various partial pressures of oxygen (5, 20 and 45 kPa) and carbon dioxide (0.03 and 6 kPa) on initiation, proliferation and maturation of somatic embryos in Picea abies were studied. The pO2 had a significant effect on the initiation of embryogenic tissue from mature zygotic embryos. However, the effect of pO2 was dependent on the strength of the basal medium. Low pO2 stimulated the formation of embryogenic tissue when the zygotic embryos were incubated on full strength medium, but was inhibitory when half-strength medium was used. Proliferation of embryogenic tissue was stimulated by higher partial pressures of both CO2 and O2. The effect of the gas phase on maturation of somatic embryos varied between different cell lines. However, there was a general tendency for 5 kPa O2 and 6 kPa CO2 to stimulate maturation.