Somatic seeds: encapsulation of asexual plant embryos

Somatic embryos (SE) of alfalfa, celery, and cauliflower were encapsulated as single–embryo beads approximately four millimeters in diameter to produce individual somatic (artificial) seeds. The SE were mixed in sodium alginate and dropped into a solution of calcium chloride to form calcium alginate beads via an ion exchange reaction. For our two best somatic embryogenesis systems, alfalfa and celery, in vitro germination frequencies with production of seedling–quality plants were routinely 30% and 65%, respectively. In addition, encapsulated alfalfa and celery SE developed into plants in sand trays or in transplant plugs at frequencies of 7% and 10%. The production of seedling–quality plants from individual somatic seeds, as first reported here, has potential as a novel, universal delivery system.