Somatic Embryogenesis
Description and Benefits 
Process Overview 
Detailed Description 
Delivery Systems
Plantation Forestry
Tree Breeding
Biodiversity
Testing & Trial Program
CellFor's Intellectual Property






Somatic embryogenesis is an advanced form of vegetative propagation. Vegetative propagation refers to any method used to replicate individual plants, as opposed to seed propagation. Look at the varieties of plants, trees, flowers and other vegetation that are widely available to consumers through horticultural nurseries and greenhouses. These are generally reproduced as selected desirable varieties by cuttings (a form of vegetative propagation). Vegetatively propagated varieties are also referred to as lines. Examples include grape vines, azaleas, fruit and nut trees and landscape trees, including broadleaf and Conifer 
A cone-bearing vascular plant belonging to the order “Coniferales” which is a sub-class of the botanical group “Gymnospermae”. Conifers used in forestry and reforestation include various species of pines, spruces, cedars, firs, hemlocks and cypress. Conifers produce commercial “softwood”. 
 varieties.

Unfortunately, in many forest tree species, it isn't so simple because the ability to successfully produce cuttings from most forest trees is limited. Somatic embryogenesis 
A process of initiation and development of somatic embryos in vitro from somatic cells and tissues. 
 uses more complex process which relies on the splitting of one embryo into two or more identical embryos to achieve the same result. Somatic Embryos 
A plant embryo formed in vitro from vegetative (somatic) cells by mitotic division of cells. 
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 can then be grown into plants which are identical genetically. Put another way, the vegetative propagation (or copying) simply occurs at an earlier stage in the plant's life cycle. The result is the same as cuttings but without the limitations.

The ultimate purpose is, of course to select and produce better trees. In the agricultural industry there are other parallels. In corn, for example, the yields have increased from 20 bushels per acre in the 1930's to more than 100 bushels per acre by the late 1990's as a result of dramatic improvements in the genetic quality of the seed. In corn, we've developed more than 120 generations of improvement from the seed available in the 1930's.

But trees are different. In forestry, we're on our second or third generation. Furthermore, tree breeding strategies (as distinct from corn breeding) demand that several varieties be used at once in order to minimize any risk of crop failure over the longer crop rotations. With somatic embryogenesis, we can bring the productivity of better genetics in a way that is suitable for the global forest products industry.

Faster. More efficiently. More economically.

At CellFor, we've developed the technology that allows the replication of individual trees to occur indefinitely, allowing us to produce millions of copies of that first seed. Better yet, we're developing technology that will allow us to identify and breed better seed for future generations.

Why somatic embryogenesis works

Unlike conventional forest seed production techniques, somatic embryogenesis is a relatively fast process. This accelerates field testing and Line 
When used in the context of plant propagation, the term refers to a collection of plants produced asexually either from a single plant or part of a plant. They have the exact same genetic make-up. 
 (or variety) selection, and results in faster deployment of genetically elite seeds in forest plantations.

The result is a faster and more cost-effective process for identifying and producing genetically ideal trees without genetic modification.

The benefits of somatic embryogenesis accrue to the forest owner in greater yield, to the processor in more consistent and uniform feedstock, and to society in more productive forest plantations, and less pressure on the need to harvest natural forests.

Please read on to learn more about our technology.