Artificial seeds.

The use of somatic embryos as artificial seeds for large scale clonal propagation of plants is close to becoming a reality. The quality of the artificial seed depends on the temporal, quantitative and qualitative supply of growth regulator and nutrients along with an optimal physical environment. Desiccation of somatic embryos provides a quiescent phase analogous to true seeds, facilitating the convenience of year round production, storage and distribution. Somatic embryos possess the ability to express desiccation tolerance in response to an external chemical or physical stimuli. The mechanisms of desiccation tolerance involve stabilization of membranes in dry state and prevention of oxidative degradation of biomolecules. Encapsulation of embryo may control the water uptake, release of nutrients and provide mechanical protection required for field planting.