Somatic Embryogenesis and Our Plants

Somatic Embryogenesis is when somatic embryos are formed where the existences of plant cells are used, where they are not normally involved. This can be done with ordinary plant tissue. There is no sperm or a coat formed around a somatic embryo. This process is used for clonal propagation, the creation of entire plants from a single cell and providing tissue that can be used for genetic transformation. Synthetic seeds can also be produced. The development of zygotic embryos, which is what occurs naturally in plant life, is susceptible to suspensor cells however it has no effect on somatic embryos. So they are stronger.

Somatic Embryogenesis first starts with a plant embryo that is extracted from a seed. The seed goes in a petri dish with initiation medium. During the six week waiting time the tissue that grows turns into embryogenic tissue, which as long as it remains with the medium will grow indefinitely. This tissue can be frozen for use at another time. Then the tissue is mixed with a maturation medium, which allows them to feed and grow. Once they are ready they are placed with a germination medium and let to form roots. They can then be planted.

Somatic Embryogenesis has been a great resource for cloning trees. Scientists go out into the woods and find trees that show strong traits such as weather resistant, insect resistant, wind resistant etc. Once they find these trees they collect the cones ands remove the bracts to get out the seeds. A few years ago a mountain pine beetle that was destroying the western coast made it over the Rocky Mountains and started eating up all the trees in the forest towards New Brunswick, Canada. This was a terrifying outbreak. Along lakes where these beetles would drown there were stacks of dead ones up to a foot high. These beetles were everywhere. This is why Somatic Embryogenesis is important. We can take a seed of one tree and produce hundreds of the same trees. If we find a tree that is resistant to the beetle we can clone it to help save/rebuild the destroyed forest.

Mostly it is conifers trees that are cloned now. The advantages of using Somatic Embryogenesis (SE) are that with other cloning techniques only the young trees can be used. By the time the type of tree has been identified it has grown. With SE tree roots can be stored in liquid nitrogen. So some of the roots can be used while others keep then when they are required they are just taken out of cryogenic storage and SE is used to plant in clonal forestry.

This process of Somatic Embryogenesis is still in the developmental/research stages but it has very promising results. Soon we will be able to do this with a variety of plant lives. With the constant loss of trees and other foliage this is a solution that could really make a difference. It could mean the restoration of many of our lost forests. That in turn will create a substantial positive effect on our environment.

Resources

Organic Farming Jobs

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• Beginning as a Sustainable Agriculture Apprentice
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• Green Jobs: Farmers of Organic Fruits and Vegetables
• Green Farming: Next Generation of Young Farmers
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• What Does a Horticulturist Need to Study?
• Arborist
• Organic Food Production Worker
• Horticulture/Horticulturalist
• Permaculture/Permaculturalist
• Greenhouse - Co Op Business

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