PHYSIOLOGICAL BEHAVIOR OF ENCAPSULATED SOMATIC EMBRYOS

Somatic embryos are characterised by the absence of any protection, a very low reserve level and a high water content. The effects on the re spiration and the radicular elongation of somatic embryos of a non tox ic and easy to use hydrogel, such as alginate, have been studied. Resp iration or germination rates decreased with an increase in alginate co ncentration. When the encapsulated somatic embryos were placed in a li quid medium, there was very little difference between the germination rates observed at different alginate concentrations, either with or wi thout an additional PEI layer. The effect of capsule concentration on germination rate was significatively different when the artificial see ds were growing on solid media. Besides the anoxic treatment upon enca psulated somatic embryos, storage for one month also decreased the ger mination rate.