Overview of Somatic Embryogenesis

Somatic embryogenesis is a natural phenomenon through which somatic embryos are produced from somatic cells although. It is considered the most efficient morphogenic pathways for plant multiplication. One of the key features of somatic embryogenesis is the use of cellular totipotency, where dedifferentiation is induced to foster cell proliferation, followed by the induction of differentiation using plant growth regulators to produce new plants. There is a cell group with the potential to undergo the somatic embryogenesis pathway through adequate stimulation (plant growth regulators, incubation conditions, and supplementation of the culture medium). There are two somatic embryogenesis pathways in plants: direct and indirect embryogenesis. Direct somatic embryogenesis consists of the formation of embryos directly from isolated cells, without the formation of “callous” tissue. Indirect somatic embryogenesis is characterized by the formation of a callus as a stage that precedes the formation of somatic embryos. It should be stressed that not all plant cells have this morphogenic capacity; consequently, determining the type of factors that drive this type of response has been challenging. This book provides the reader with updated available information on the techniques, relevant protocols, and tools to perform somatic embryogenesis in different plant species for economic purposes.