An advanced image analysis system for evaluation of somatic embryo development.

Somatic embryogenesis is among the most promising means of large scale plant micropropagation. The development of somatic embryos is characterized by their morphological changes. Embryos in culture usually exhibit high heterogeneity and abnormality. As conventional microscopic observation is laborious and subjective, an objective and quantitative morphokinetic description is important for further advancement of this important process technology. We developed an image analysis system capable of measuring morphological and size features of embryos. Subtle environmental effects on embryo development, which are often masked by the subjectivity of microscopic observation, are now discernible by statistically comparing the distributions of these morphological and size features. This image analysis and pattern recognition system was applied to examine the kinetics of a fed-batch culture.