Embryogenesis, Somatic

Plant somatic embryos can be obtained by the techniques of tissue culture. The diagram shows embryogenesis in suspension culture and compares it with in planta embryogenesis (see Fig. E23). In most species it is not necessary to go to protoplasts and embryos may develop from other tissue cells on regeneration media. Several nutrient media have been developed in various laboratories (see Murashige and Skoog; Gamborg 5). For tobacco and Arabidopsis the following protocol is quite effective. R4 Medium: I. Major mineral salts, mg/500 mL H₂O: NH₄NO₃ 1,800,KNO₃ 800, MgSO₄.7H₂O 100, CaH₄(PO₄)₂ 100, KH₂PO₄ 100, K₂HPO₄ 50. II. CaCl₂ 15g/100 mL. III. KI 75 mg/100 mL. IV. Microelements mg/500 mL: H₃BO₃ 6,200, MnSO₄. H₂O 16,900, ZnSO₄.7H₂O 8,600, NaMoO₄. 2 H₂O 250, CuSO₄.5 H₂O 25, CoSO₄.7H₂O 29.54. V. Chelated iron: in 100 mL H₂O FeSO₄.7H₂O 556 mg, diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid 786.4 mg. VI. Vitamins, mg/50 mL: myo-inositol 5,000, thiamin 500, nicotinic acid amide 50, pyridoxine.HCl 50....