Field planting of alfalfa artificial seeds

Morphogenic Aspects of Somatic Embryogenesis

“…5)./f1 vitro conversion frequencies of encapsulated embryos ranged as high as 290/0 and 55% for randomly picked alfalfa somatic embryos and visually selected celery somatic embryos, respectively, while conversion on sand or peat plugs was considerably lower [256]. Thirty-fouf percent of encapsulated alfalfa somatic embryos matured with 1-5 JtM ABA converted following sowing in trays of potting soil in the greenhouse [264] and 23% converted following field planting under styrofoam cups [263]. Somatic embryos ora number of other species have been encapsulated using alginate capsules, including barley [265], carrot [266], sandalwood (267)(268)(269), loblolly pine [117J, and interior and black spruces (270].…”

“…Although recent advances in controlling desiccation have shifted the emphasis to desiccated synthetic seeds, many studies testing coated, hydrated synthetic seeds have been published, and the only published field tests of synthetic seeds to date have employed this type of coating [263]. Redenbaugh et aL {255-257J pioneered the use of hydrogels for encapsulating embryos of alfalfa, celery and caulinower by mixing them with sodium alginate and dropping them into a solution of calcium chloride to form calcium alginate capsules around each embryo (Fig.…”

In Vitro Conservation of Date Palm Germplasm

“…At present, the alfalfa synthetic seed system is the most advanced (Redenbaugh 1993) and has progressed to direct field planting of synthetic seeds (Fujii et al 1992). The use of encapsulated shoot-tips as artificial seeds is reported on banana (Ganapathi et al 1992).…”

Tissue Culture of Woody Plants and Its Relevance to Molecular Biology

“…Duplicating the chemical and physical attributes of natural seeds which are responsible for rapid emergence of normal germlings under field conditions will be the most effective way to use synthetic seed technology (Carlson and Hartle, 1995). Several encapsulation methods have been tested some of which involve the addition of nutrients (Redenbaugh, 1991;Fujii et al, 1992;Sanada et al, 1993;Mukunthakumar and Mathur, 1992;Carlson and Hartle, 1995). Carson et al, (1992) even included oxygen as part of encapsulation process; this improved the performance of the synthetic seeds.…”