What can we learn from seeds? Somatic versus zygotic embryogenesis

Somatic embryogenesis, a powerful in vitro propagation pathway, has not reached its full potential due to limitations such as asynchronous differentiation and development of somatic embryos, disturbed polarity, premature germination, early loss of embryogenic potential, and strong genotypic differences in the regeneration efficiency.
In contrast, zygotic embryogenesis, a complex, highly organized process, in most cases does not face these problems.
In several literature reports the similarity of somatic and zygotic embryos in terms of morphological, histological, biochemical and physiological aspects was shown.
On the other hand, pronounced differences between these two types of embryogenesis indicated higher stress levels, less accumulation of storage compounds and a missing distinction of differentiation and germination by a quiescent phase in somatic embryos.
Recent reports comparing somatic and zygotic embryos and analyzing the role of the endosperm are summarized in this overview in order to optimize somatic embryogenesis by learning from the situation in seeds.

IX International Symposium on In Vitro Culture and Horticultural Breeding

T. Winkelmann

endosperm, germination, maturation, metabolites, proteome, somatic embryo, stress

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2017.1187.1