Noninvasive evaluation of somatic embryogenesis

Abstract

Callus Suspension Cultures of Ipomea batates Poir. cv. White Star were grown in an airlift bioreactor. A machine vision system was used to monitor nondestructively callus growth during a 10 day culture period. Growth data obtained with this system included the overall reactor population and population estimates for the 200-1200-microm fractions at 200-microm intervals. A model of callus growth was developed to explain the mechanics of callus enlargement. The model was based on the assumptions that (1) the calli could not subdivide or shrink, (2) there was a fixed percentage of the initial population for each fraction that was nonviable, and (3) growth rates did not vary with time during the culture period. It was determined that the growth rates and nonviable ratios decreased as fraction size increased.

La embriogénesis somática en Ipomoea : una posibilidad para la multiplicación y conservación de los recursos vegetales

“…El uso de la embriogénesis somática como un método de regeneración de plantas puede facilitar el desarrollo de técnicas mecánicas que permitirían la siembra directa de este cultivo a diferencia de la propagación vegetativa convencional (Cantliffe et al, 1988;Shultheis et al, 1990;Harrel et al, 1992;Desamero et al, 1994;Bieniek et al, 1995). Según Chée et al (1992), la embriogénesis somática en el boniato ofrece una oportunidad para la integración y automatización de la multiplicación clonal rápida y la siembra.…”

Somatic Embryogenesis and the Technology of Synthetic Seed

“…On-line monitoring of the callus production phase of the somatic embryogenesis process was demonstrated by Harrell et al (1991). A machine vision system was used to nondestructively monitor the growth of sweet potato callus during a lO-day culture period in an airlift bioreactor.…”

Automated, in vitro harvest of somatic embryos

“…When objects were too close they could be missed by the vision system or confused by the object tracker or result in an inadvertent harvest if a non targeted object occupied the harvest gap at the time when a targeted object was being ejected. The object spacing in the conduit was a function of the reactor population density which decreased with a first order response during the course of a harvest run (Harrell et al 1992). To control the object spacing in the harvest conduit independently of the reactor population density the return line from the peristaltic pump was shunted to the silicon tubing connecting the reactor pickup tube to the harvest conduit (see Fig.…”