First evidence of somatic embryogenesis from needles of 1-year-old Picea abies plants.

Somatic embryogenesis was obtained from hypocotyls and cotyledons of one month old plantlets of Picea abies. Embryogenic yield was higher with expiants from somatic embryo-derived plantlets (80 %) than with plantlets issued from zygotic embryos (10 %). This report also describes production of embryogenic calli from needles of 14 month old somatic embryo-derived plants cultivated in greenhouse. The influence of the physiological status and genotype of the mother plant on somatic embryogenic potential is discussed.