Factors influencing cloning mature trees of conifers

Abstract

At present an embryogenic system derived from vegetative shoot apices or secondaryneedles of mature pines have been well established in at least a few conifers. This is themajor breakthrough in forest biotechnology, and certainly solves the current problems oftree breeding. During cloning of mature conifers, isolated somatic cells under any externalstress conditions of cold/heat or chemical are induced to form a somatic embryo. Cloning ofmature conifers was influenced by many factors such as pH, carbohydrate source, plantgrowth regulators, and activated charcoal. The embryogenic cells are very important becausethey differentiate, and undergo cleavage polyembryony to form somatic embryos at a latertime in conifers.