Somatic Embryogenesis

    Somatic embryogenesis in plants is the process of forming embryos from somatic cells or body cells (not sex cells). Somatic embryogenesis has been widely practiced in vitro, through a technique called tissue culture. In this somatic embryogenesis technique, somatic cells undergo cell division and form the same embryo as the zygotic embryo, where the embryo has a bipolar structure consisting of shoot meristem tissue and root meristem. 

    Somatic embryogenesis has been widely practiced in vitro, through a technique called tissue culture. Many studies have shown that in vitro somatic embryogenesis and zygotic embryogenesis go through more or less the same stages, in terms of morphology, physiology, and biochemistry. Therefore, a number of scientific reports report on the use of in vitro somatic embryogenesis systems to study the process of zygotic embryogenesis. In vitro somatic embryogenesis can occur indirectly and directly. In indirect somatic embryogenesis, explants (small pieces of cultured plant parts) form a callus and then the callus becomes a somatic embryo. In direct somatic embryogenesis, direct explants form somatic embryos. The following are the stages of somatic embryogenesis:

>Stage 1: Initiation and Proliferation, namely the embryo taken from the seed is placed on a medium that provides the nutrients needed for the development of the embryo in a petri dish. After about six weeks, some of the tissue grows into embryogenic tissue. This proliferative process marks the initiation of somatic embryogenesis. During this phase, the embryogenic tissue proliferates continuously and is capable of cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen for future use or as germplasm conservation.

>Stage 2: Embryo maturation, namely the embryogenic tissue lump is transferred to a maturation medium containing plant hormones that support the formation of somatic embryos.

>Stage 3: Embryo Germination, i.e. Mature somatic embryo germinates to form roots and shoots, similar to a plant which germinates from a seed and the resulting plant is called "somatic seedling".

>Stage 4: Greenhouse Cultivation and Acclimatization, namely somatic seedlings transferred to soil media for further growth and acclimatization. After a growing period in the greenhouse, the seedlings can be planted in the field.

    In breeding modern, somatic embryogenesis is as important as it can be regenerates a manipulated plant cell either by transformation or mutation into plants complete. Somatic embryogenesis is influenced by several factors, including growth hormone, explant genotype, nitrogen source and other substances such as sucrose, ethanol, and maltose.

References

Hapsoro, Dwi and Yusnita, Yusnita (2022) EMBRIOGENESIS SOMATIK IN VITRO UNTUK PERBANYAKAN KLONAL DAN PEMULIAAN TANAMAN. Other. Aura Publishing, Bandar Lampung, Indonesia.

Kosmiatin, M.et al. 2014.Kosmiatin, M. et al. 2014. Induksi Embriogenesis Somatik dari Jaringan Endosperma Jeruk Siam (Citrus nobilis Lour.) J. Agron. Indonesia 42(1): 44-51.

"Somatic Embryogenesis". The Agricos. Diakses 28 Februari 2023