Abstract
Dicot seeds are commonly characterised by the rapid loss of moisture, vigour and longevity that cause adverse physiological and biochemical effects. Such changes reduce seed viability, germinability and seedling vigour in most agronomic legume crops. Thus, this paper evaluates the potential role of synthetic seed production as an avenue to achieve genetic variability, avert recalcitrance and fleet seed viability challenges experienced in recalcitrant legume species. Synthetic seeds, also known as synseeds or artificial seeds produced via somatic embryogenesis are crucial for the successful establishment of plants, and serve as an important determinant of plant productivity, especially for crops such as soybean. The potential use of synseeds could serve a fundamental role in ensuring cheap and rapid supply of new genetic resources and seed propagules for both breeders and farmers. This approach will ultimately maximise crop yield and offer a tremendous potential for micropropagation and germplasm preservation of recalcitrant species in sub-Saharan Africa. This review reports on a variety of applications and benefits of plant biotechnology in the African context and highlights important advantages such as genetic uniformity, simplified handling, storage, efficient distribution etc. that could be of immeasurable benefit to the seed value chain in agriculture, particularly for rural communities in these developing countries.
Highlights
Micropropagation by plant tissue culture is one of the most interesting and promising areas of applied and commercial research in plant biotechnology
This paper evaluates the potential role of synthetic seed production as an avenue to achieve genetic variability, avert recalcitrance and fleet seed viability challenges experienced in recalcitrant legume species
This review reports on a variety of applications and benefits of plant biotechnology in the African context and highlights important advantages such as genetic uniformity, simplified handling, storage, efficient distribution etc. that could be of immeasurable benefit to the seed value chain in agriculture, for rural communities in these developing countries
Summary
Micropropagation by plant tissue culture is one of the most interesting and promising areas of applied and commercial research in plant biotechnology. This approach presents the opportunity to establish and maintain plant organs (shoots, roots, stems, embryos, flowers etc.) and tissues (cells, callus and protoplasts) under aseptic culture conditions for mass propagation. Among the techniques used to regenerate plants via tissue culture, the use of synthetic seeds ( called synseed or artificial seeds) may serve as a valuable alternative technology for preservation and micropropagation of important agroeconomic legume crops [1]. Synthetic seeds contain somatic embryos that are directly encapsulated or are partially dehydrated before encapsulation within artificial seed coats [2]. The seeds can be sown for germination in soils or culture media like traditional seeds, which is a way of sowing somatic embryos for mass propagation
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