Somatic Embryogenesis in Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.).

Somatic embryogenesis is the process by which embryos are formed from a single or small group of somatic cells in response to specific stimuli. Somatic embryogenesis has been applied to achieve mass clonal propagation on an industrial scale and to increase the agronomic performance of species of economic interest, including sugarcane. The use of somatic embryogenesis in sugarcane stands out as a biotechnological tool with a high potential for application in the clonal propagation of disease-free elite varieties, as an essential part of genetic transformation protocols, and in the production of synthetic seeds. A better understanding of each phase of somatic embryogenesis can help to optimize the process to enhance yields and produce high-quality emblings. In this chapter, we describe a detailed protocol for somatic embryogenesis in sugarcane (Saccharum sp.) to be used in research projects for small-scale production. This protocol comprises all steps from explant preparation to the establishment of sugarcane emblings.