Somatic Embryogenesis

Somatic embryogenesis is the formation of embryos - called embryoids - directly from callus tissue, or alternatively from pre-embryonic cells that differentiate directly out of cultured cells without an intervening callus stage. Because these embryoids arise from somatic (body) cells rather than from the fusion of male and female gametes, the process bypasses sexual reproduction entirely while still producing a structure that develops just like a normal embryo would. Somatic embryogenesis has two major practical applications: the potential plantlets it produces can, after a hardening period, be established directly as new plants, and the embryoids themselves can be encapsulated to manufacture synthetic (artificial) seeds (section 5.5.2). The process has now been reported in a wide range of plants, including Allium sativum (gar …