Commercialization potential of somatic embryogenesis in black spruce tree improvement

Abstract

The somatic embryogenesis process was evaluated as a potential tool for operational vegetative propagation using individuals from families currently used in the J.D. Irving, Ltd. black spruce tree improvement program. Most families were responsive although the number of individuals within families capable of producing embryogenic tissue (ET) varied greatly (1–70%). Seventy-four percent of the ET clones produced mature embryos and most of these germinated. Greenhouse survival was initially low (11%) but improved in subsequent experiments to 45% as growing regimes were refined. Demonstration plantings of the resulting somatic plants were established at two sites in New Brunswick. A total of 206 clones were cryopreserved. The potential for integrating somatic embryogenesis techniques into tree improvement and stock production programs is discussed. Key words: tree improvement, somatic embryogenesis, clonal propagation, black spruce, biotechnology