Research

Biochemical and morphological parameters determinig cryotolerance in conifer embryogenic cultures.

Cultivation and genetic factors affecting efficiency of conifer somatic embryogenesis.

Role of ABSCISIC ACID.INSENSITIVE3 homologue in abscisic acid signal transduction studied in system of Norway spruce somatic embryogenesis.

Cultivation and genetic factors affecting efficiency of conifer somatic embryogenesis.

MŠMT, 2000-2004, Martin Vágner

Polyamines (PAs), low molecular mass polycations, are ubiquitous cell components that are essential for normal growth of both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. Most of the biological functions of PAs can be explained by their polycationic nature, which facilitates interactions with anionic macromolecules (such as DNA and RNA) and negatively charged groups of membranes. They are implicated in a wide range of biological processes including cell division and growth, morphogenesis and differentiation and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. The most abundant PAs in plants are putrescine (Put), spermidine (Spd) and spermine (Spm).

• National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), Unit for Improvement, Genetics and Forestry Physiology (UR 0588), Orléans, France
• Institute of Plant Genetics and Biotechnology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Nitra, Slovakia
• Department of Experimental Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Praha, Czech Republic
• Institute of Scientific Instruments of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
• Department of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Praha, Czech Republic
• Department of Forest Ecology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Science, Czech University of Life Sciences, Praha, Czech Republic

• Hebrew University, Institute for Drug Research, Jerusalem, Israel 
• Forestry and Game Management Research Institute, Strnady, Czech Republic
• Forestry and Game Management Research Institute, Department of Reproductive Sources, Research station Kunovice, Czech Republic

The process of plant somatic embryogenesis allows the acquisition of a large number of genetically identical individuals. That fact is used in practice to obtain a rich progeny from a minimal number of seeds. At the same time, somatic embryogenesis is an ideal system for studying the early stages of plant development. Somatic embryogenesis starts by the derivation of embryogenic culture, mostly from zygotic embryos. Embryogenic cultures are cultivated in vitro on precisely defined media, whose composition determines further development of somatic embryos. In conifers the whole process consists of five basic steps - induction of embryogenic culture, proliferation, maturation of somatic embryos, desiccation and germination.