Embryo Culture and Embryo Rescue in Brassica

Abstract

Somatic embryogenesis is the best demonstration of totipotency in higher plants in which somatic cell produce whole plant like zygotic embryo. It is also demonstrated that immature, weak, hybrid or sometimes inviable embryos can be saved through in vitro culture to prevents its degradation. It may help to cross the reproductive barriers when interspecific hybrids developed. Brasssica is an economically valuable oil yielding and vegetable crop and India is the largest producer of oil seed rape in the world. Various factors affect the embryo rescue in Brassica like growth stage of the embryos, types and composition of the rescue medium etc. The embryo regeneration potential can improve through the modification of culture conditions in both zygotic as well as somatic embryo. Except the embryo culture other parts like ovule, ovary culture can also be done to developed interspecific hybrids. This chapter is focused on the embryo rescue techniques in the genus Brassica and summarizes possible ways of improving the technique used.