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.
Vondráková Z, Eliášová K, Vágner M, Martincová O, Cvikrová M:
Exogenous putrescine affects endogenous polyamine levels and the development of Picea abies somatic embryos.
PLANT GROWTH REGULATION 75: 405-414, 2015.
Higher polyamine levels of fully developed embryos had positive effects on their ability to tolerate UV-B irradiation when compared with induced response s of early embryos. The aim of this work was to test the hypothesis that the higher levels of polyamines (PAs) might be involved in the response of Norway spruce somatic embryos to UV-B irradiation. We compare here the effects of 0.1, 0.6 and 6 W m-2 h-1 UV-B irradiation on polyamine metabolism in early and fully developed Norway spruce somatic embryos.
Key message The results of this study indicate the roles of polyamines and phenylpropanoids in the prevention of oxidative damage provoked by UV-B treatment. Abstract Plants respond to UV-B exposure by synthesizing a broad range of secondary metabolites, including ROSscavenging antioxidants and UV-B screening phenylpropanoids. Our recent results indicated that the accumulation of higher levels of polyamines in fully developed somatic embryos of Norway spruce may be causally linked to better tolerance of UV-B irradiation.
