SERIAL HARVEST – A SYSTEM TO ENHANCE CARROT (DAUCUS CAROTA) SOMATIC EMBRYO CULTURE PRODUCTIVITY

Commercialization of the somatic embryo cultures is obstructed by the poor somatic embryo quality in somatic embryogenesis.
As the heterogeneous embryo stages develop in the same culture environment, their intercellular interactions are partly responsible for quality deterioration.
Additionally, plant conversion competence of an embryo last only during certain stage of embryo development.
Periodical harvest of matured embryos (serial harvest) from the culture was suggested, on one hand, to save the embryos before loosing competence, on the other way, to manipulate intercellular interactions.
Feasibility of serial harvest was observed and 10 different mini embryo groups (MEGs) were harvested.
High secondary-embryogenic potential was observed as the embryos develop towards cotyledonary stage.
Aberrant embryo percentage was high with torpedo embryos.
Later, two serially harvested cultures were compared with parallel conventional cultures.
Serially harvested cultures were superior in both total embryo output as well as embryo quality.

International Symposium on Plant Production in Closed Ecosystems

H. Liyanage, K. Kurata

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1996.440.86