S. Mohan Jain

Somatic embryogenesis in woody plants

Section A. 1. Somatic Embryogenesis in White Spruce: Studies of Embryo Development and Cell Biology L. Kong, et al. 2. Proliferative Somatic Embryogenesis in Woody Species K. Raemakers, et al. 3. Somatic Embryo Germination and Desiccation Tolerance in Conifers E.I. Hay, P.J. Charest. 4. Performance of Conifer Stock Produced Through Somatic Embryogenesis S.C. Grossnickle. 5. Apoptosis During Early Somatic Embryogenesis in Picea spp L. Havel, D.J. Durzan. 6. Water Relation Parameters in Conifer Embryos: Methods and Results N. Dumont-Beboux, et al. 7. Image Analysis for Sorting Somatic Embryos Y. Ibaraki. 8. Somatic Embryogenesis in Woody Legumes R.N. Trigiano, et al. 9. Cold Storage and Cryopreservation of Camellia Embryogenic Cultures A.M. Vieitez, A. Ballester. 10. Cryopreservation of Embryogenic Cultures of Conifers and Its Application to Clonal Forestry D.R. Cyr. 11. Commercialization of Plant Somatic Embryogenesis B.C.S. Sutton, D.R. Polonenko. Section B. 12. Somatic Embryogenesis in Myrtaceous Plants J.M. Canhoto, et al. 13. Somatic Embryogenesis Induction in Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) J.M. Canhoto, et al. 14. Somatic Embryogenesis in Simarouba glauca Linn G.R. Rout, P. Das. 15. Somatic Embryogenesis in Magnolia spp. S.A. Merkle. 16. Somatic Embryogenesis and Evaluation of Variability in Somatic Seedlings of Quercus serata by RAPD Markers K. Ishii, et al. 17. Somatic Embryogenesis from Immature Fruit of Juglans cinerea P.M. Pijut. Section C. 18. Somatic Embrygonesis in Pinus patula Scheide et Deppe N.B. Jones, J. van Staden. 19. Somatic Embryogenesis in African Cycads (Encephalartos) A.K. Jager, J. van Staden. 20. Somatic Embryogenesis in Picea wilsonii Y. Yang, Z. Guo. 21. Somatic Embryogenesis in Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb) Y.S. Park, et al. 22. Somatic Embryogenesis in Hybrid Firs J. Jasik, et al. 23. Somatic Embryogenesis in Taxus S.R. Wann, et al.

Tissue culture-derived variation in crop improvement

Tissue culture generates a wide range of genetic variation in plant species which can be incorporated in plant breeding programmes. By in vitro selection, mutants with useful agronomic traits, e.g. salt or drought tolerance or disease resistance, can be isolated in a short duration. The successful use of somaclonal variation is very much dependent on its genetic stability in the subsequent generations for which molecular markers such as RAPDs, AFLPs, SSRs and others can be helpful. The potential of somaclonal variation has yet to be fully exploited by breeders, even though a few cultivars have been developed in crops such as Brassica juncea, rice and others.Tissue culture generates a wide range of genetic variation in plant species which can be incorporated in plant breeding programmes. By in vitro selection, mutants with useful agronomic traits, e.g. salt or drought tolerance or disease resistance, can be isolated in a short duration. The successful use of somaclonal variation is very much dependent on its genetic stability in the subsequent generations for which molecular markers such as RAPDs, AFLPs, SSRs and others can be helpful. The potential of somaclonal variation has yet to be fully exploited by breeders, even though a few cultivars have been developed in crops such as Brassica juncea, rice and others.

Protocol for somatic embryogenesis in woody plants

Section A -- Slash Pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) -- Somatic Embryogenesis and Genetic Transformation in Pinus radiata -- Douglas - Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) -- Omorika Spruce (Picea omorika) -- Somatic Embryogenesis in Picea glauca -- Protocol of Somatic Embryogenesis: Black Spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) -- Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) -- Protocol of Somatic Embryogenesis of Pinus nigra Arn. -- Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda) -- Somatic Embryogenesis in Maritime Pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) -- Somatic Embryogenesis in Pinus patula -- Somatic Embryogenesis in Norway Spruce -- Section B -- Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) -- Somatic Embryogenesis Protocol: Coffee (Coffea arabica L. and C. canephora P.) -- Protocols for Somatic Embryogenesis and Plantlet Formation from Three Explants in Tea (Camellia sinensis (l.) o. kuntze) -- Protocol of Somatic Embryogenesis from Citrus spp. Anther Culture -- Integrated System for Propagation of Theobroma cacao L. -- Mango (Mangifera indica L.) -- Somatic Embryogenesis Injackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) -- Somatic Embryogenesis in Indian Olive (Elaeocarpus robustus L) -- Rescue of Endangered Palms by in vitro Methods: The Case of ‘Bottle Palm’ -- Somatic Embryogenesis in American Grapes (Vitis x labruscana L.H. Bailey) -- Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) -- Grape (Vitis vinifera L.) -- Date Palm Phoenix dactylifera L. -- Somatic Embryogenesis Protocol: Citrus -- Olive (Olea europaea L.) -- Section C -- Protocol of Somatic Embryogenesis: Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. (Sissoo) -- Protocol of Somatic Embryogenesis: Pedunculate Oak (Quercus robur L.) and Sessile Oak (Quercus petraea /Matt./ Liebl.) -- Protocol of Somatic Embryogenesis: Tamarillo (Cyphomandra betacea (Cav.) Sendtn.) -- Protocol of Somatic Embryogenesis: European Chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) -- Protocol of Somatic Embryogenesis in Acacia arabica (Lamk.) Willd. -- Protocol for Hazelnut Somatic Embryogenesis -- Protocol of Somatic Embryogenesis: Ocotea catharinensis Mez. (Lauraceae) -- Cork Oak, Quercus suber L. -- Sawara Cypress Chamaecyparis pisifera Sieb. et Zucc. -- Protocol of Somatic Embryogenesis: Holm Oak (Quercus ilex L.) -- Protocols for Somatic Embryogenesis of Hybrid Firs -- Somatic Embryogenesis in Sandalwood -- Echinacea purpurea L.: Somatic Embryogenesis from Leaf Explant -- Section D -- Histological Techniques -- Bioencapsulation of Somatic Embryos in Woody Plants -- Protoplast Isolation and Culture of Woody Plants -- Cryopreservation of Embryonal Cells -- Double Staining Technology for Distinguishing Embryogenic Cultures -- Thin Cell Layer Sectioning for Inducing Somatic Embryogenesis in Woody Plants.

Major mutation-assisted plant breeding programs supported by FAO/IAEA

Under the Joint FAO/IAEA programme, radiation-induced mutations are used for genetic improvement of both seed and vegetatively propagated plants. The FAO/IAEA programme maintains a database of officially released mutant varieties worldwide (http:www-mvd.iaea.org/). Currently, over 2300 mutant varieties are registered in our database. Coordinated Research Projects (CRPs) and Technical Co-operation Projects (TCP) are two major activities at IAEA that serve Member States at the national, regional and interregional levels. This article highlights CRPs on banana, underutilized and neglected crops, and tropical and subtropical fruits. CRPs on banana and underutilized and neglected crops have already been concluded. TCPs in South East Asia (Thailand, and Malaysia), Africa (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana), and the Middle East (Yemen) are discussed. The main projects in South East Asia are on genetic improvement of ornamental plants, fruits and cereals. In Africa, projects are on cassava, date palm, salinity and drought. In the Middle East, funded projects are related to salinity, and drought. In this article, major achievements are highlighted through CRPs and TCPs on low cost tissue culture, banana, underutilised and neglected crops, tropical and subtropical fruits.

Plant Genetics For a Better Life-Proceedings of the 18th International Congress, Beijing, China

Plant genetics has come a long way from the days of the first paper published by Gregor Mendel in 1865 and the rediscovery of the laws of inheritance in 1900. The hypothetical ‘factors’ which recombined following fertilization and segregation in the second generation, have become the physical molecules of RNA and DNA. The past century witnessed the elucidation of the structure of DNA and its replications, the way it stores genetic information and passes it on to the next generation. The role of genes in determining human behavioral patterns through hormones and diseases by wrong proteins, in plants to increase yield and quality, in controlling flowering and fruiting by changing the expression of growth regulators and signal transduction has placed genetics as one of the key biological sciences. The synthesis of the genes in the test-tube and their transmission following insertion into the existing life forms has eliminated the border between the living and non-living world. The new tools allow moving genes without regard to the boundaries between species that cannot exchange these genes through conventional sexual crossing which mother nature did not do during the course of 400 million years of evolution of life on earth. As we near the sequencing of the full human genome, made up of some 60,000 genes on the one hand and of the 25,000 genes on the tiny plant Arabidopsison the other, by the end of 2000, the advances in genetics are impinging every aspect of human life. The strides in our knowledge of genes are greater and our understanding deeper than ever before as we approach the next congress in Melbourne, Australia in 2003.

MICROPROPAGATION OF LITCHI (Litchi chinensis Sonn.)

Litchi (Litchi chinensisSonn.) is one of the precious and economically important fruit crops of the world. The species belongs to the family Sapindaceae, which comprises about 2000 species of tropical and subtropical trees, shrubs, and vines that have been classified into 140 genera (Chapman, 1984). Litchi has been shown to possess variable diploid chromosome numbers where 2n = 28, 30, 32. The variation in chromosome number is thought to be because the modem species had more than one wild progenitor. Litchi fruit contain high levels of ascorbic acid ranging from 40 to 80 mg/IOO g of flesh, making it an excellent source of vitamin C (Cavaletto, 1980). The edible portion of fruit is a thick juicy aril having high moisture content (77 to 83 %), low fat (less than 1 %) and high sugar (14 to 23° Brix) and phosphorus contents. The fruit is an excellent thirst quencher and serves as a tonic for brain, heart and liver. In addition to medicinal uses, litchi fruit and their starchy seeds are used in brewing sweets and fragrant wine.