Synopses & Reviews
The rapid progress on somatic embryogenesis and its prospects for potential application to improving woody plants prompted us to edit this book initially in three volumes, and now an additional three more volumes. We were all convinced that such a treatise was needed and would be extremely useful to researchers and students. This volume 6 is dedicated to Prof. Harry Waris, Helsinki, Finland, who did pioneer work on somatic embryogenesis during the time when Prof. Steward and others were actively engaged in this area. His former student Prof. Liisa Simols, University of Helsinki, Finland, has written a dedication `Harry Waris, a pioneer in somatic embryogenesis' to her teacher Prof. Waris. This volume is divided into three sections and contains a total of 26 chapters. Section A comprises seven chapters covering topics such as: Historical insights into some contemporary problems in somatic embryogenesis (SE); Thin cell layer for somatic embryogenesis induction in woody trees; SE in tropical fruit and forest trees; SE in fruit and forest arid trees; Status of SE in Indian forest trees; SE research in fruit trees in India; Applications of SE for the improvement of tropical fruit trees. Section B comprises 15 chapters, dealing with: SE in oil palm, hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.), pistachio (Pistacia vera L.), Araucaria angustifolia, Quercus suber, Aspidosperma polyneuron, Acacia senegal, Simmondsia chiensis, Cupressus sempervirens, pecan (Carya illinoinensis), rattan (Calamus spp.), tamarillo (Cyphomandra betacea, longan (Dimocarpus longan Lor.), Aegle marmelos, and Euonymus europaeus. Section C comprises three chapters related to cryo-storage of citrus, conifers and rubber. All the chapters have been peer-reviewed and revised accordingly to improve the quality of the chapters. We are thankful to all: (a) contributory authors for their co-operation in submitting manuscripts in time, and (b) reviewers for spending their valuable time in reviewing the manuscripts.
Synopsis
The quality of human life has been maintained and enhanced for generations by the use of trees and their products. In recent years, ever rising human population growth has put a tremendous pressure on trees and tree products; growing awareness of the potential of previously unexploited tree resources; and environ- mental pollution have both accelerated the development of new technologies for tree propagation, breeding and improvement. Biotechnology of trees may be the answer to solve the problems which can not be solved by conventional breeding methods. The combination of biotechnology and conventional methods such as plant propagation and breeding may be a novel approach to improving and multiplying a large number of the trees and woody plants. So far, plant tissue culture technology has largely been exploited by commercial companies in propagation of ornamentals, especially foliage house plants. Gene- rally, tissue culture of woody plants has been recalcitrant. However, limited success has been achieved in tissue culture of angiosperm and gymnosperm woody plants. A number of recent reports on somatic embryogenesis in woody plants such as Norway spruce (Picea abies), Loblolly pine (Pinus taedb), Sandalwood (Santalum album), Citrus, mango (Mangifera indica), etc., offer a ray of hope of: a) inexpensive clonal propagation for large-scale production of plants or "emblings" or somatic seedlings; b) protoplast work; c) cryopreservation; d) genetic transformation; and e) synthetic or artificial or manufactured seed production.
Table of Contents
Section A. Dedication: Harry Waris, a pioneer in somatic embryogenesis;
L. Simola. 1. Historical insights into some contemporary problems in somatic embryogenesis;
A.D. Krikorian. 2. Current status of thin layer method for the induction of organogenesis or somatic embryogenesis in woody trees;
K.T. Thanh Van, B. Van Le. 3. Somatic embryogenesis in tropical fruit trees;
N. Akhtar, et al. 4. Somatic embryogenesis in fruit and forest trees of arid zone;
R.R. Bhansali, M. Singh. 5. Status of somatic embryogenesis in Indian forest trees;
P.S. Rao, et al. 6. Somatic embryogenesis research of fruit trees in India;
R. Nadgauda, et al. 7. Applications of somatic embryogenesis for the improvement of tropical fruit trees;
N. Akhtar, S.M. Jain. Section B. 8. Somatic embryogenesis in oil palm;
A. Rival. 9. Applied and basic studies on somatic embryogenesis in hazelnut (
Corylus avellana L.);
R. Rodriguez, et al. 10. Somatic embryogenesis in Pistachio (
Pistacia vera L.);
A. Onay, C.E. Jeffree. 11. Somatic embryogenesis in pecan (
Carya illinoinensis);
H.Y. Wetzstein, et al. 12. Somatic embryogenesis in longan (
Dimocarpus longan Lour.);
Z. Lai, et al. 13. Somatic embryogenesis induction in tamarillo (
Cyphomandra betacea);
M.L. Lopes, et al. 14. Somatic embryogenesis in
Araucaria angustifolia (Bert) O. Ktze;
M.P. Guerra, et al. 15. Somatic and gametic embryogenesis in
Quercus suber L.;
M.A. Bueno, et al. 16. Somatic embryogenesis in
Aspidosperma polyneuron Mull. Arg;
L.L.F. Ribas, et al. 17. Somatic embryogenesis in a leguminous tree-
Acacia senegal (L.) Willd.;
S. Shahana, S.C. Gupta. 18. Somatic embryogenesis in cypress (
Cupressus sempervirens L.);
M. Lambardi. 19. Somatic embryogenesis in rattan (
Calamus spp.);
D.K.S. Goh, et al. 20. Somatic embryogenesis in jojoba (
Simmondsia chiensis);
V. Agrawal, et al. 21. Somatic embryogenesis in
Aegle marmelos (L.) corr., a medicinal tress;
A. Arumugam, M.V. Rao. 22. Environmental and biochemical factors controlling the
in vitro emergence of somatic embryos European spindle tree (
Euonymus europaeus L.);
L.M. Bonneau. 23. Somatic embryogenesis in
Quercus acutissima;
K.Y. Wook. Section C. 24. Cryostorage of
Citrus embryogenic cultures;
R.M. Perez. 25. Cryopreservation of embryogenic cultures of conifers;
H.M. Haggman, et al. 26. Cryopreservation of embryogenic calli of
Heavea brasiliensis;
F. Engelman, H. Etienne.