Improvement of Citrus somatic embryo development by temporary immersion

• Published in: Plant cell, tissue and organ culture Vol. 50; no. 1; pp. 33 - 37
• Main Authors: Cabasson, C, Alvard, D, Dambier, D, Ollitrault, P, Teisson, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 1997
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; callus; cell growth; cell suspension culture; Citrus deliciosa; culture media; developmental stages; embryo (plant); Establishment of new cell lines, improvement of cultural methods, mass culture; Eukaryotic cell cultures; explants; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; hyperhydricity; liquid medium; methodology; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; micropropagation; plant anatomy; Plant cells and fungal cells; plant morphology; regenerative ability; solid medium; somatic embryogenesis; Culture medium; Cell culture; Embryonic development; Vegetals; Citrus fruit; Rutaceae; Liquid medium; Micropropagation; Immersion; Somatic embryo; Regeneration; Suspension culture; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta; Hyperhydration
• ISSN: 0167-6857; 1573-5044
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1005896725780

Liquid medium improves and facilitates somatic embryo development from Citrus deliciosa Ten. suspension cultures. Three different culture conditions were compared to determine a means of overcoming poor somatic embryo development. Somatic embryos derived from suspension cultures were plated on solid medium, maintained in suspension culture or temporarily immersed. About 60% of somatic embryos plated on solid medium developed to the cotyledonary stage, but were hyperhydric. Continuous growth in suspension culture at 100 rpm hindered cotyledon and protoderm formation, and somatic embryos were unable to develop beyond the globular stage. Temporary immersion promoted somatic embryo development, i.e. 66% of the somatic embryos produced were cotyledonary, and were morphologically similar to nucellar embryos. This latter culture system also improved regeneration synchronization by hampering secondary embryogenesis at the onset of germination. Irrespective of the culture system used, most cotyledonary somatic embryos studied had no caulinary meristem or starch and protein reserves, thus explaining the low germination rates obtained.