Somatic embryogenesis in Picea wilsonii

Abstract

In general, plant tissue culture of conifers has been recalcitrant. Non morphogenetic callus and suspension cultures were established with difficulty; protoplast isolation and culture at best recovered non morphogenetic cell colonies in limited number of species. The first report on conifer somatic embryogenesis appeared in 1985 from three independent laboratories (Chalupa, 1985; Hakman et. al., 1985; Nagmani and Bonga, 1985)and that revolutionized conifer tissue culture. Many laboratories around the world adopted these new methods and have made a great progress on somatic embryogenesis in conifers during the recent years. Induction of somatic embryogenesis and plantlet recovery from somatic embryos is now possible in a range of forest species (Jain eta1, 1995). Successful plantlet regeneration via somatic embryogenesis has been reported for several conifer species, such as Norway spruce (P. abies) (Gupta & Durzan, 1986; von Arnold & Hakman, 1988; Mo & von Arnold, 1991), interior spruce (mixture of P. glauca and P. Pengelmannii) (Webb et. a1., 1989; Roberts et. al., 1990; Webster et. al., 1990; Flinn et. al., 1991);black spruce (P. mariana) (Hakman & Fowke, 1987; Tautorus et. al., 1990), and white spruce (P. glauca) (Dunstan et. al., 1988). Embryogenic calli have polyembryos at different developmental stages and these somatic embryos can develop into plants, They are suitable material for studying the growth and differentiation of ssomatic embryos as well as genetic control of conifers. This technique can produce and select tree varieties at the cellular level, fasten the proliferation and improve the quality of afforestation (Gupta et. al., 1987).