DESICCATED SOMATIC SEEDS

COATED SOMATIC EMBRYOS OR "SOMATIC SEEDS" PROVIDE A METHOD TO DIRECTLY DELIVER PLANT MATERIAL FROM TISSUE CULTURE TO THE GREENHOUSE OR FIELD WITHOUT THE LABORIOUS AND EXPENSIVE STEP OF FORMING TRANSPLANTS. DESICCATED SOMATIC SEEDS WOULD HAVE MANY ADVANTAGES OVER HYDRATED SOMATIC SEEDS SUCH AS EASE OF STORAGE DUE TO THE QUIESCENT STATE OF THE EMBRYO WHILE DEHYDRATED. DESICCATION IS A NATURAL PROCESS IN BOTANIC SEED AND MAY IMPROVE OR BE REQUIRED DURING THE MATURATION PROCESS IN SOMATIC EMBRYOS. DURING PHASE I, WE WILL INVESTIGATE METHODS OF DESICCATION FOR SOMATIC EMBRYOS THAT ALLOW FOR SUBSEQUENT SURVIVAL AND GERMINATION INTO WHOLE PLANTS UPON REHYDRATION IN VITRO. WE WILL ALSO FOCUS ON IN VITRO MATURATION TREATMENTS FOR SOMATIC EMBRYOS THAT PROMOTE OR ENHANCE THE GERMINATION OF THE EMBRYOS AFTER DESICCATION AND REHYDRATION. SECONDLY, WE WILL IDENTIFY SUITABLE MATERIALS THAT WILL SERVE AS PROTECTIVE COATINGS FOR THE DELIVERY OF THE DRIED EMBRYOS. LASTLY, WE WILL BEGIN INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE GERMINATION OF DESICCATED SOMATIC SEEDS IN A SOIL ENVIRONMENT. DESICCATED SOMATIC SEEDS HOLD PROMISE AS A UNIQUE SYSTEM TO DELIVER TISSUE CULTURED PLANT CLONES OR GENETICALLY ENGINEERED CLONES DIRECTLY TO THE GREENHOUSE OR THE FIELD.