Relation of the developmental stage of zygotic embryos of yellow-poplar to their somatic embryogenic potential.

The goal of the study was to characterize the optimal developmental stage of zygotic embryo expiants of the hardwood forest tree species yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.) for the initiation of embryogenic cultures, using morphological measurements and polypeptide profiles of the embryos. Developing zygotic embryos from seeds of six full-sib families, collected every two weeks from 4 weeks postpollination until seed maturity (18 weeks postpollination) were divided into 2 subsamples for each collection date. One group was used to initiate tissue cultures. Embryos in the other group were measured (total length, cotyledon length and hypocotyl thickness) and soluble polypeptide profiles of the embryos were analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Potential of an expiant to produce an embryogenic culture peaked during the eighth week following pollination, with an average of 28% of the expiants producing proembryogenic masses, and declined to near zero for mature zygotic embryos. The maximum embryogenic potential corresponded to the globular stage of embryo developmet. Soluble protein profiles of zygotic embryos from 5 sampling dates indicated that decline in embryogenic potential appeared to parallel an increase in the level of a polypeptide of approximately 55 kDa, possibly a storage protein.