Somatic embryogenesis (SE) is a means by which plants can regenerate bipolar structures from a somatic cell. During the process of cell differentiation, the explant responds to endogenous stimuli, which trigger the induction of a signaling response and, consequently, modify the gene program of the cell. SE is probably the most studied plant regeneration model, but to date it is the least understood due to the unclear mechanisms that occur at a cellular level. In this review, the authors seek to emphasize the importance of signaling on plant SE, highlighting the interactions between the different plant growth regulators (PGR), mainly auxins, cytokinins (CKs), ethylene and abscisic acid (ABA), during the induction of SE. The role of signaling is examined from the start of cell differentiation through the early steps on the embryogenic pathway, as well as its relation to a plant’s tolerance of different types of stress. Furthermore, the role of genes encoded to transcription factors (TFs) during the embryogenic process such as the LEAFY COTYLEDON (LEC), WUSCHEL (WUS), BABY BOOM (BBM) and CLAVATA (CLV) genes, Arabinogalactan-proteins (AGPs), APETALA 2 (AP2) and epigenetic factors is discussed.

Cytokinins (CK) are plant growth regulators involved in multiple physiological processes in plants. One less studied aspect is CK homeostasis (HM). The primary genes related to HM are involved in biosynthesis (IPT), degradation (CKX), and signaling (ARR). This paper demonstrates the effect of auxin (Aux) and CK and their cross talk in a Coffea canephora embryogenic system. The transcriptome and RT-qPCR suggest that Aux in pre-treatment represses biosynthesis, degradation, and signal CK genes. However, in the induction, there is an increase of genes implicated in the CK perception/signal, indicating perhaps, as in other species, Aux is repressing CK, and CK are inducing per se genes involved in its HM. This is reflected in the endogenous concentration of CK; pharmacology experiments helped study the effect of each plant growth regulator in our SE system. We conclude that the Aux–CK balance is crucial to directing somatic embryogenesis in C. canephora.

Auxins are plant growth regulators that participate in a variety of biological mechanisms during the growth and development of plants. The most abundant natural auxin is indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). The physiological processes regulated by IAA depend on their temporal space accumulation in different tissues of a plant. This accumulation is regulated by its biosynthesis, conjugation, degradation, and transport. Therefore tools that allow us a qualitative and quantitative detection of IAA in plant tissues are very useful to understand the homeostasis of IAA during the life cycle of plants. In this protocol, the complete procedure for localization of IAA in different tissues of Coffea canephora is described using specific anti-IAA monoclonal antibodies.

Coffea arabica is one of the most important crops worldwide. In vitro culture is an alternative for achieving Coffea regeneration, propagation, conservation, genetic improvement, and genome editing. The aim of this work was to identify proteins involved in auxin homeostasis by isobaric tandem mass tag (TMT) and the synchronous precursor selection (SPS)-based MS3 technology on the Orbitrap Fusion™ Tribrid mass spectrometer™ in three types of biological materials corresponding to C. arabica: plantlet leaves, calli, and suspension cultures. Proteins included in the β-oxidation of indole butyric acid and in the signaling, transport, and conjugation of indole-3-acetic acid were identified, such as the indole butyric response (IBR), the auxin binding protein (ABP), the ATP-binding cassette transporters (ABC), the Gretchen-Hagen 3 proteins (GH3), and the indole-3-acetic-leucine-resistant proteins (ILR). A more significant accumulation of proteins involved in auxin homeostasis was found in the suspension cultures vs. the plantlet, followed by callus vs. plantlet and suspension culture vs. callus, suggesting important roles of these proteins in the cell differentiation process.

Auxin plays a central role in growth and plant development. To maintain auxin homeostasis, biological processes such as biosynthesis, transport, degradation, and reversible conjugation are essential. The Gretchen Hagen 3 (GH3) family genes codify for the enzymes that esterify indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) to various amino acids, which is a key process in the induction of somatic embryogenesis (SE). The GH3 family is one of the principal families of early response to auxin genes, exhibiting IAA-amido synthetase activity to maintain optimal levels of free auxin in the cell. In this study, we carried out a systematic identification of the GH3 gene family in the genome of Coffea canephora, determining a total of 18 CcGH3 genes. Analysis of the genetic structures and phylogenetic relationships of CcGH3 genes with GH3 genes from other plant species revealed that they could be clustered in two major categories with groups 1 and 2 of the GH3 family of Arabidopsis. We analyzed the transcriptome expression profiles of the 18 CcGH3 genes using RNA-Seq analysis-based data and qRT-PCR during the different points of somatic embryogenesis induction. Furthermore, the endogenous quantification of free and conjugated indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) suggests that the various members of the CcGH3 genes play a crucial role during the embryogenic process of C. canephora. Three-dimensional modeling of the selected CcGH3 proteins showed that they consist of two domains: an extensive N-terminal domain and a smaller C-terminal domain. All proteins analyzed in the present study shared a unique conserved structural topology. Additionally, we identified conserved regions that could function to bind nucleotides and specific amino acids for the conjugation of IAA during SE in C. canephora. These results provide a better understanding of the C. canephora GH3 gene family for further exploration and possible genetic manipulation.