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Immature Seeds and Embryos of Medicago truncatula Cultured In Vitro

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Plant Embryo Culture

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 710))

Abstract

Legumes are an important source of proteins and lipids for food and feed. In addition, they are ­environmentally friendly because of their capacity to fix nitrogen through a symbiosis with Rhizobium that permits them to produce abundant proteins even in the absence of nitrogen fertilization. Seed development in plants follows three chronological steps (1) seed coat differentiation, embryo morphogenesis and endosperm development; (2) embryo maturation with storage accumulation and (3) dehydration and the acquisition of desiccation tolerance. Finally, germination occurs when the environmental conditions become favourable. Working with the model legume Medicago truncatula, an in vitro protocol was developed for the culture of immature embryos that permits their development in a way comparable to that observed in plants.

In this chapter, the usefulness of this system for investigating embryo development in legumes is outlined.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. INRA, CR Dijon, UMR LEG, Dijon, France

    Sergio J. Ochatt

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  1. Sergio J. Ochatt
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, University Dr. NW., 2500, Calgary, T2N 1N4, Alberta, Canada

    Trevor A. Thorpe

  2. , Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, University Dr. NW 2500, Calgary, T2N 1N4, Alberta, Canada

    Edward C. Yeung

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© 2011 Humana Press

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Ochatt, S.J. (2011). Immature Seeds and Embryos of Medicago truncatula Cultured In Vitro. In: Thorpe, T., Yeung, E. (eds) Plant Embryo Culture. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 710. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61737-988-8_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61737-988-8_4

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61737-987-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-61737-988-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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