Embryo Culture : Importance, Aspects and Applications | Plant Tissue Culture

The im­portance and application of embryo cul­ture on the basis of available information can be broadly grouped into three categories:

1. Importance of embryo culture in relation to biological knowledge

2. Applied aspects of embryo culture

3. Other applications

1. Importance of Embryo Culture In Relation to Biological Knowledge:

In vitro embryo culture has been usefully employed to study some very fundamental prob­lems which are difficult to undertake in embryos enclosed within seeds. Experiments with em­bryos separated from the seeds without interfer­ence from accessory tissues have contributed a lot of information’s to our biological knowledge of plant development in the following aspects.

(i) It helps determining the factors that regu­late the growth of the primodial organs of the seedling plant.

(ii) It helps to study the metabolic and bio­chemical aspects of dormancy and germi­nation.

(iii) It helps in analysis of the various parame­ters of embryonic growth.

(iv) The culture of pro embryo helps to under­stand the control of differentiation and the nutritional requirements of progressively smaller embryos.

(v) The culture of surgically dissected embryos segments has facilitated understanding the relationship of the different parts of the em­bryo to its final form in culture.

(vi) An embryo undergoes a gradual transition from the dependence of the zygote to the relatively autonomy of the mature embryo. Changes in nutritional requirements of em­bryos at different stages can be demonstrat­ed by embryo culture.

(vii) The role of accessory tissues can be stud­ied by culturing isolated embryos.

In vitro microsurgical experiments with embryos of cassytha filiformis have shown that cotyledon play an important role in the development of seedling (Fig 10.5). It is evident from the data of Rangaswamy and Rangan (1971) that in C. filiformis the growth factor(s) for shoot development resides in the “radicular-halves” of the cotyledon. If the “plumular halves” of both the cotyle­dons are removed the seedling is well developed but if redicular halves are re­moved the plumule does not grow.

(viii) It has proved difficult to germinate by conventional methods the seeds of obli­gate phanerogamic root and stem para­sites in the absence of contact with the host plant. Seeds and embryos of sev­eral obligate parasites have been grown under aseptic conditions to study their dependence on the host.

In 1962 Johri and Bajaj successfully cul­tured the young embryo of Cuscuta reflexa, a stem parasite in absence of host tissue (Fig 10.6). The mature embryo of Cuscuta has a definite plumule but it lacks a radicle. Truscott (1966) cultured mature and immature embryos of Cus­cuta in order to induce root system by applying adenine, kinetin, GA₃, coconut milk and casein hydrolysate. But none of the treatments induced rooting. The experiment indicates that Cuscuta lacks a root growth potential.

Undifferentiated embryo (0.5-1 mm) of Cuscuta reflexa on culture produce cal­lus tissue which later form many embry­oids. But differentiated embryos (1.5- 2.5 mm) produce seedling and later sev­eral adventives embryoids are formed.

In 1963, Rangaswamy and Rangan cul­tured the embryo of Cassytha filifor­mis, a stem parasite in absence of host. Root parasites are dependent on the host stimulus. Some root parasites e.g. Cistanche, Orobanche, Striga etc. are also de­pendent on the host plant for seed germina­tion. In cultures the seeds of root parasites do not germinate in a nutrient medium. However, the addition of extract of host roots to the medium induces the seed ger­mination independent of the host.

In vitro seed germination and shoot devel­opment independent of host stimulus has also been reported in root parasites Osyris wightiana, Exocarpus cupressiformis and Santalum album. Most of the root parasites do not form haustoria in cultures without a host.

(ix) The effect of nutrient medium, amino acids, vitamins and plant hormones can be ob­served on embryo in culture.

2. Applied Aspects of Embryo Culture:

From a practical point of view, in vitro em­bryo culture is very useful in many applied as­pect:

(a) To raise a healthy plant from abortive or non-viable embryos;

(b) To overcome seed dormancy;

(c) To shortening the breeding cycle;

(d) To overcome self-sterility of seeds;

(e) Seed testing.

Culture of Non-Viable or Abortive Embryo:

Embryo abortion or non-viable embryos may develop in some natural seeds or may pro­duce in seeds due to unsuccessful interspecific and inter-generic crosses.

Culture of abortive embryo from normal plant:

In the seeds of some fruit plants like ap­ple, peach, pear etc. are abortive embryos which do not even respond to stratification treatment. In such cases, embryo culture is the most promis­ing method to obtain a plant from such abortive embryos.

In the polyembryonic seeds like lemons, or­anges, the additional embryos are developed from nucellar tissue. Such embryos gradually abort during development and do not germinate under natural conditions. These embryos can be grown under artificial in vitro conditions to ma­ture plant for clonal propagation. When the goal is to obtain plants from abortive embryos, the embryos should be excised prior to the onset of abortion.

Culture of abortive hybrid embryo:

In many breeding experiments, embryo abortion is noticed in the seeds of unsuccessful crosses Although fertilization takes place normally in such crosses and hybrid embryos begin to develop in a relatively normal way, a number of irregularities subsequently set in which results in the forma­tion of non-viable hybrid embryos.

As a result it makes a barrier to cross ability in plants where the non-viable hybrid embryos are unable to de­velop into mature plants. Plant embryo culture has now been used to speed up breeding pro­gramme and to overcome the cross ability barrier in plants. In breeding work with crop plant and hor­ticultural plant, embryo culture method is very useful for the production of hybrid plants with desirable characters.

Crop Plants:

Embryo culture has been successfully employed in many unsuccessful in­terspecific crosses of crop plants. Tomato Cultivated tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) is very susceptible to virus, mold and nematodes. But the wild species L. peruvianum is relatively resistance. In a cross be­tween the two species, the fruit develops nor­mally but the seeds containing underdeveloped embryos do not germinate. Hybrid plants have been raised from such seeds by embryo culture.

Barley:

The cultivated winter barley such as Hordeum vulgare and H. sativum are defi­cient in winter hardiness and are susceptible to mildew diseases. But wild barley i.e. H. bulbosum is winter handy and is resistant to mildew In a cross between H. sativum and H. bulbosum the embryo is formed but fails to grow in the ovule.

When the embryo is cultured in nutri­ent medium, it produces the transplantable hy­brid plants. Interspecific hybrid plants have also been obtained in crosses between H. vulgare and H. bulbosum by in vitro embryo culture.

One novel use of embryo culture in barley is the production of monoploid and double mono- ploid plants. In this process an interspecific cross is made between H. vulgare as the female and H. bulbosum as a male. Fertilization takes place and zygote is also formed. But the chromosome of H. bulbosum is rapidly eliminated from the cells of the developing embryo (Fig 10.7).

As a result, a monoploid embryo is formed where the cell division and development are both slow. On the other hand, the developing endosperm disin­tegrates. Following embryo culture, monoploid plantlets are raised. Double monoploids are also produced by colchicine treatment which actu­ally induces the chromosome doubling. This ap­proach is thus potentially a very useful method in plant improvement.

Rice:

Embryo culture has been successfully employed to raise hybrid plants. These hybrid plants are capable to withstand adverse envi­ronmental conditions and are resistant to several diseases.

Jute:

Hybridization between Corcliorus capsularies and C. olitorius is a major aim of jute breeders but their attempts have failed due to early abscission of pollinated flowers, resulting a low fruit set. Fruits are associated with pre­mature abortion of embryos. Embryo culture has been successfully applied to raise hybrid plants.

Cotton:

Hybridization between Gossypium arboreum and G. lnrsutum has almost failed and only marginal success has been achieved in rear­ing hybrid embryos to maturity in culture.

Legumes:

Trifolium is a forage crop, but hybridization between Trifolium species has been impeded by embryo abortion. Embryo cul­ture has been attempted to obtain hybrid com­bining perennial habit with forage quality. Melilotus officinalis (sweet clover) is an an­other important forage crop. But it has high coumarin content which is harmful to cattle.

So attempts have been made to hybridize M. offic­inalis with other low coumarin species like M. alba Some success has only been achieved by culturing hybrid embryos. Similarly, viable hy­brid plants have been raised by embryo culture from interspecific crosses in Lotus species, Medicago species etc.

Employing the similar technique, hybrid plants have been raised from Phaseolus vulgaris x P. acutifohus and Lathyrus clymenum x L. articulata.

Embryo culture is not only useful for un­successful interspecific crosses but also equally applicable for inter-generic crosses where embryo abortion, low percentage of seed germination is the chronic problems to plant breeders.

It is, however, now possible to raise the plant by embryo culture from an inter-generic cross between Hordeum jabatum and Scale cereale. By the same method, hybrids have also been obtained from H. cahformium X S. cereale, H. vulgare X S. cereale, H. depressum X S. ce­reale, H. jubatum X Hordeclymus europaens.

Triticum and Elymus are crossed with a view to achieve a hybrid plant with strong root system and a higher grain yield. But such cross is unsuccessful due to malformation and low vi­ability of seeds. However, it is now possible to raise a hybrid plant by embryo culture.

In another integeneric cross between Tripsacum dactyloides and Zea mays, higher percent­age hybrid plants are raised by embryo culture than by normal seed germination. From the above discussion, it is clear that embryo culture is an effective way of raising hy­brid plant where there is a crossibility barrier.

Horticultural Plants:

Embryo culture is an important research tool for the improve­ment of horticultural plants. Successful results have also been obtained in case of fruit tree breeding as well as breeding work with flow­ering garden plant. In some cases hybrid plants raised by embryo culture have proved to be supe­rior with regards to earliness in flowering and the number of flowers per plant.

By embryo culture, hybrid plants have been raised from Lilium henryi X L. regale, L. speciosum X L. auraium. In Chrysanthemum, an interspecific hybrid between C. boreable and C. pacificum has been raised by embryo culture. Employing the same technique, several Iris plants have been reared.

Seed Dormancy and Embryo Culture:

Seed dormancy is a natural phenomenon Dormant seeds fails to germinate under appar­ently suitable conditions. In dormant seed the enclosed embryo is not able to grow. This temporary suspension of growth is definitely due to some internal condition of seeds or due to some environmental causes. Prolonged seed dormancy presents a special problem to plant growers.

So several methods have been devised to break the dormancy of seeds. But in some seeds dormancy cannot be broken by any conventional method Embryo culture has been successfully used to by­pass the traditional treatments to overcome seed dormancy and accelerate germination in certain types of seed.

Seeds of tall bearded Iris remain dormant varying from a few months to many years after harvest. But within two to three months, trans­plantable plants are possible to raise by embryo culture. Seeds dormancy has been overcome in the seeds of some other plants such as Lactuca sativa, Citrullus colocynthis, Phacelia tenacetifolia, Nemophia insignis etc.

Seeds of some of the common cereals be­come dormant immediately after harvest. In vitro culture of excised embryos from such dor­mant seeds in suitable nutrient medium supple­mented with hormone might be advantageously used to raise the seedling immediately after har­vest.

In orchids, morphological development of the embryo and their subsequent germination take place in the soil in association with mycorrhizal fungi. Otherwise the seeds remain dor­mant in absence of symbiotic fungus. The seeds or odchid can be grown asymbiotically by culturing them in nutrient medium. Orchid growers are now commercially utilizing this technique for the production of profuse orchid plantlets.

Shortening of the Breeding Cycle:

In breeding practice, dormant seeds and slow growth of seedling are not suitable mate­rial. Embryo culture is a valuable tool to plant breeders because this method can reduce the breeding cycle.

Overcoming Self-sterility of Seeds:

In some economically important plants like banana, kachoo, seeds are produced, but such seeds are never known to germinate in nature. Such plants propagate very easily by vegetative means. This natural sterility barrier in the seed could be overcome by embryo culture.

Seed Testing:

Embryo culture has provided a rapid means of measuring accurately the viability and germ-inability of a particular lot of seeds. In seed testing practices, it is a very useful and reliable method to predict the viability of seeds.

3. Other Applications:

To Study the Evolutionary Relationship:

Conventional hybridization technique is an important method for the study of evolutionary relationship, speciation and for determining the taxonomic position of plants. In some cases hy­bridization fails at the interspecific level due to formation of abortive embryos. Hybridizing the different species of Datura and culturing abortive embryos in some cases, some interesting results has been obtained about their con­trovert taxonomic position and evolutionary relationship.

To Study Host Parasite Interaction:

Plant pathogens may infect the flower or flowering spike of host plant e.g. ergot disease of rye plant. This may lead to malformation o seeds or loss of seed. Incorporation of fungal of in the culture medium and the culture of embryo facilitate to study the host parasite interaction.

To Study the Mutagenic Effect:

Seeds are often irradiated by X-rays, and gamma-rays to study the mutagenic effect. Em­bryo culture is a very useful technique to evalu­ate” the mutagenic effect of the irradiated seed. From the practical point of view, embryo culture is also useful to determine the safety doses of irradiation used for food preservation.