Somatic embryo development and plant regeneration from embryogenic Norway spruce callus

Abstract

Somatic embryogenesis, the production from tissue cultures of embryo-like structures that can grow into plants, has only recently been discovered in conifers. We have established callus cultures from immature Norway spruce embryo explants that are highly embryogenic; a gram of callus yields over 10 somatic embryos. The somatic embryos "germinate" similarly to seed derived embryos, developing green cotyledons and shoot growth, a hypocotyl, and a primary root. Potential applications of this conifer regeneration system are discussed relative to forest biotechnology.