Embryo culture

Embryo culture deals with the sterile

isolation and in vitro growth of a mature or
an immature embryo with an ultimate
objective of obtaining a visible plant.

Two types of embryo culture-mature

embryo culture and immature embryo
culture or embryo rescue
 Mature embryo culture
Isolated from ripe seeds and cultured in vitro-
cultures are carried out in the following
conditions.

Remain dormant for long periods

Low survival embryos in vivo

If they found sterile in vivo and to convert them

into viable seedlings
Immature embryo culture or embryo rescue
Embryo rescue involves the culture of immature
embryos to rescue them from unripe or hybrid
seeds which fail to germinate.

This approach is very useful to avoid embryo

abortion and produce a viable plant.

Wild hybridization (intergeneric or interspecific)-

hybrid formation-incapable of germination or
normally abort prematurely-failure in endosperm
development
Dissection of normal embryo

Pressing out of normal embryo

Insertion of hybrid embryo ino the normal

endosperm through an exit hole

Embryo-endosperm transplant

Culturing on a suitable medium

Embryo endosperm transplant technique
Ovule with normal embryo
Ovule with hybrid embryo
Normal endosperm

Endosperm with
Failed development

Hybrid embryo Normal embryo

Exit hole

Hybrid embryo

Normal endosperm

Embryo endosperm transplant

Nutritional requirements of embryo cultures

There are two phases in the embryo

development and the nutritional
requirements varies accordingly.
Heterotrophic phase:
Early phase-dependent on the endosperm
and maternal tissues
Autotrophic phase:
Metabolic capability-synthesize
Culturing medium-immature embryos –more
complex

Mature embryos –simple inorganic medium

In organic constituents of MS, B5 and White’s

media
Sucrose
Ammonium nitrate
Casein hydrolysate
Natural plant extracts i.e coconut water
GR not required , pH 5.0- 7.5, 24-26oC, better
growth in dark, light favours germinaton
 Applications of embryo culture

Prevention of embryo abortion-distant hybrids-bacterial,

fungal and viral diseases-resistance traits

Overcoming seed dormancy

Shortening of breeding cycle

Hollies, a christmas decoration plant

Production of haploids

Overcoming seed sterility-incomplete embryo

development

Clonal propagation-organogeneis and somatic

embryogenesis from embryonic tissues