脱落酸和玉米素结合使用对杂交鹅掌楸体胚分化及发育的影响

【目的】探讨了不同浓度脱落酸(ABA)和玉米素(ZT)处理对杂交鹅掌楸体胚发生发育的效应,为杂交鹅掌楸大规模繁殖技术的建立提供理论依据。【方法】以15-5202基因型的杂交鹅掌楸胚性愈伤组织为材料,比较在体胚分化阶段单独添加ABA以及同时添加ABA和ZT对体胚分化的影响;通过体胚发生数量统计、体胚生长状况观察等筛选出诱导效率高、体胚发育正常的体胚分化培养基。【结果】1)在体胚分化培养基中添加ABA对体胚的分化及成熟具有促进作用,添加0.5～1.5 mg·L^-1 ABA可加快体胚发育,且体胚形态正常;添加2.0～2.5 mg·L^-1 ABA时,虽使体胚分化率明显提高,但畸形胚比例增加;低浓度ABA处理30天后转入光培养2周体胚即可成熟;而未添加ABA处理的体胚在同样条件下未完全发育成熟,体胚呈白色、子叶淡黄色。2)在体胚分化培养基中同时添加ABA及ZT能提高体胚分化率及促进体胚发育; 2.0 mg·L^-1 ABA结合0.2～0.4 mg·L^-1 ZT处理后光培养2周,体胚形态发育正常,子叶分化明显,胚根健壮,生长状况较佳;未经过ZT处理的体胚生长发育较慢; ZT浓度高于0.6 mg·L^-1时体胚生长发育受到抑制,不利于体胚分化及成熟。【结论】在杂交鹅掌楸体胚分化培养基中添加2.0 mg·L^-1 ABA和0.2～0.4 mg·L^-1 ZT能够进一步提高体胚发生效率,促进体胚正常发育。     

Zygotic and somatic embryo morphogenesis in Pinus pinaster: comparative histological and histochemical study

We compared morphogenesis and accumulation of storage proteins and starch in Pinus pinaster Ait. zygotic embryos with those in somatic embryos grown with different carbohydrate sources. The maturation medium for somatic embryos included 80 microM abscisic acid (ABA), 9 g l(-1) gellam gum and either glucose, sucrose or maltose at 44, 88, 175 or 263 mM in the presence or absence of 6% (w/v) polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4000 MW. Maturation medium containing 44 or 88 mM of a carbohydrate source produced only one or no cotyledonary somatic embryos per 0.6 g fresh mass of culture. The addition of PEG to the basal maturation medium resulted in a low yield of cotyledonary somatic embryos that generally showed incomplete development and anatomical abnormalities such as large intercellular spaces and large vacuoles. High concentrations of maltose also induced large intercellular spaces in the somatic embryonic cells, and 263 mM sucrose produced fewer and less developed cotyledonary somatic embryos compared with 175 mM sucrose, indicating that the effect of carbohydrate source is partially osmotic. Zygotic embryos had a lower dry mass than somatic embryos at the same stage of development. Starch granules followed a similar accumulation pattern in zygotic and somatic embryos. A low starch content was found in cotyledonary zygotic embryos and in somatic embryos developed in the presence of 175 mM maltose or 263 mM glucose. In zygotic embryos and in PEG-treated somatic embryos, protein bodies appeared later and were smaller and fewer than in well-developed somatic embryos grown without PEG. We propose that storage protein concentration might be a marker of embryo quality.     

火炬松体细胞胚胎发生和干化体细胞的氧化物酶活性(英文)

培养于附加2,4-D、BA和KT的愈伤组织诱导培养基上的火炬松成熟合子胚在培养3-9周后形成白色、半透明、有光泽的粘性愈伤组织。这类愈伤组织形成于成熟合子胚的子叶,但当用NAA或者IBA代替愈伤组织诱导培养基中的2,4-D时,它的诱导频率明显降低。这种粘性愈伤组织在分化培养基上形成体细胞胚。体细胞胚经过去50μm ABA和8.5%PEG600处理后成为耐干化胚。扫描电镜观察表明,萌发处理36小时后,耐干化胚恢复到干化处理之前的状态且大小和形态正常,而不耐干化胚不能恢复到干化处理之前的状态且表面撕裂。过氧化物酶活性的分析结果表明,耐干化胚有更高的过氧化物酶活性。耐干化胚的高过氧化物酶活性可能与催化H2O2的分解和保护体细胞胚免受氧化的伤害有关。     

Slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) somatic embryogenesis II. Maturation of somatic embryos and plant regeneration

Maturation of slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) somatic embryos was achieved using two protocols, each starting with a different agar incubation step to deplete plant growth regulators (PGRs) used in previous cultural steps. Strength of maturation medium (single vs. double) was found important in the first protocol to develop normal, mature embryos. In the second protocol, abscisic acid (ABA) concentrations (0, 15 and 30 M) and carbohydrate sources were tested for embryo maturation. Thirty M ABA and 6% maltose were deemed the best combination. Embryo germination was accomplished in a continuously lighted environment and embryos receiving a cold pretreatment (4 °C in darkness for 16 days) germinated better than embryos which did not receive cold pretreatment. With a survival rate of 33% after acclimation in a mist system, more than 25 plants from somatic embryos have been established in a greenhouse. Incompletely germinated embryos (lacking roots) were rooted via adventitious rooting techniques and subsequently established in the greenhouse. All established plants obtained from somatic embryogenesis appear normal in morphology.     

Changes in water status and proline and abscisic acid concentrations in developing somatic embryos of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) during maturation and germination

Somatic embryos of oak (Quercus robur L.) were matured on P24 media differing in gel strength (0.8, 0.9 and 1.0% (w/v) agar). Viscosity and osmotic potential (Psipi,medium) of the media were determined. Developing cotyledonary embryos were analyzed at maturity Stages I-III for water content, osmotic potential (Psipi,embryo) and concentrations of abscisic acid (ABA) and proline. Proliferation of embryogenic tissue, germination rates and the number of embryos formed were also determined in order to relate embryo quality to physiological parameters. Viscosity increased with agar concentration, a phenomenon apparently related to water availability. Many Stage III embryos with high germination potentials were obtained on P24 medium containing 1.0% agar. Embryo water content decreased progressively from 94 to 80% during embryo maturation. Stage I and II embryos that matured on media containing 0.8 or 0.9% agar had similar values of Psipi,embryo, whereas Psipi,embryo of Stage III embryos that matured on medium containing 1.0% agar was significantly lower, although Psipi,medium was unaffected by gel strength. Stage III embryos showed a nearly 16-fold increase in proline concentration and a 50% decrease in ABA concentration compared with Stage I embryos. We conclude that tissue water status and a complex relationship between ABA and proline concentrations, modulated by medium gel strength, are important factors in the maturation process and the quality of oak somatic embryos.     

In vitro somatic embryogenesis in callus cultures of Azadirachta indica A. Juss.—a multipurpose tree

Plant regeneration via somatic embryogenesis was achieved in embryogenic callus cultures derived from immature zygotic embryos 40 days after anthesis of Azadirachta indica A. Juss. on semisolid basal Murashige and Skoog (MS) salts and vitamins supplemented with 1.11 µM 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) and 4.52–6.78 µM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). The globular-stage embryos were induced when the callus was transferred to medium with 1.11 µM BA and 0.45 µM 2,4-D. The highest average number of somatic embryos per 200 mg of callus was 152.8 after 8 weeks of culture on the medium. Maturation and germination of the somatic embryos were achieved on half-strength MS salts and vitamins supplemented 0.38–0.94 µM abscisic acid (ABA) and 2% (w/v) sucrose. The maximum percentage (64.2%) of germination was obtained with 0.94 µM ABA within 2 weeks of culture. Somatic embryo-derived plantlets were acclimatized in a greenhouse and subsequently showed normal growth. This efficient protocol will be helpful for propagating elite clones on a mass scale and will also be useful for genetic transformation study.     

天山云杉体细胞胚的成熟及萌发条件

【目的】建立天山云杉体细胞胚成熟及萌发阶段的适宜培养条件,为该树种的体细胞胚大规模繁殖和工厂化生产提供基础。【方法】以天山云杉成熟合子胚为外植体所诱导形成的胚性愈伤组织为材料,通过14个株系、4种成熟培养基、接种量(100、150、200mg的新鲜胚性愈伤组织)、ABA浓度(1.9、3.8、7.6、19、38μmol·L^-1)等体细胞胚成熟培养条件,以及对不同起源(体细胞胚、合子胚和种子)的幼苗形态特征的比较,筛选出最优的天山云杉体细胞胚成熟与萌发条件。采用SPSS18.0等统计软件对体细胞胚进行统计分析。【结果】1)天山云杉14个株系诱导体细胞胚的结果表明,不同株系在同一成熟培养基上诱导体细胞胚的数量存在差异;其中4个株系及其接种量对体细胞胚形成数量影响的结果表明,不同株系及其接种量诱导体细胞胚的数量也存在差异,当接种量为100mg时,T36株系的体细胞胚诱导数量最高,为3470±546个,显著高于其他接种量和株系(P<0.05)。2)在4种不同成熟培养基上,均形成了成熟的体细胞胚,在1/2BLG+30g·L^-1麦芽糖培养基上形成的体细胞胚数量高于其他培养基,分别为2044个(T6株系)和2282个(T36株系),且与其他培养基差异显著(P<0.05)。3)不同ABA浓度对天山云杉体细胞胚诱导数量的影响无显著性差异(P>0.05),在ABA浓度为1.9~38μmol·L^-1时,其体细胞胚平均诱导数量为2850~2913个,其中以7.6μmol·L^-1ABA的浓度处理效果较好,平均获得2913个正常体细胞胚,高于其他处理。4)将不同起源(体细胞胚、合子胚和成熟种子)萌发的小植株进行对比,结果表明,体细胞胚和合子胚幼苗发育阶段基本一致,但合子胚的幼苗比体细胞胚的幼苗约大1倍,但二者间差异不显著(P>0.05);体细胞胚与合子胚子叶的平均数量一致,二者无显著差异(P>0.05),多数幼苗子叶数量为7~8个。【结论】天山云杉体细胞胚成熟阶段的适宜培养条件为胚性愈伤组织接种量100mg,1/2BLG培养基添加7.6μmol·L^-1的ABA及75%PEG4000、30g·L^-1麦芽糖,并添加750mg·L^-1的L-谷氨酰胺或50mg·L^-1L-天冬酰胺。不同株系在诱导体细胞胚的数量上存在差异。体细胞胚再生植株与合子胚植株在形态上相似。研究结果可为天山云杉体细胞胚的大规模繁殖和工厂化生产提供基础。     

培养基成分对黑松体胚发育成熟的影响

【目的】对日本抗性黑松体细胞胚成熟的影响因子进行研究,探究各因素在体细胞胚发生过程中的作用,为进一步提高体细胞胚发生的质量和数量提供理论依据。【方法】胚性细胞团在固体增殖培养基上继代生长10天,使用灭菌(75%乙醇擦拭、紫外灭菌30 min)的电子天平称量1 g胚性细胞团,采用50 mL无菌量筒(紫外灭菌30 min)量取30 mL培养液中于100 mL的三角瓶中,将1 g胚性细胞团转至100 mL的三角瓶中,手动搅拌至细胞团分散,置于90 r·min^-1摇床上,25℃黑暗培养7～8天。随后,取3 mL沉淀悬浮细胞进行继代增殖,每星期继代增殖一次至胚性细胞全部均匀散落于培养液。将继代4次的胚性细胞充分摇匀,取2 mL(鲜质量约200 mg)胚性悬浮细胞喷洒在不同组分麦芽糖(30、45、60 g·L^-1)、脱落酸(ABA)(0、5、10、20、30、50 mg·L^-1)、聚乙二醇(PEG8000)(0、50、75、100、125、150 g·L^-1)、活性炭(AC)(1、2、3 g·L^-1)、琼脂(琼脂6、8、10、12 g·L^-1,植物凝胶2、2. 5、3、3. 5 g·L^-1)以及麦芽糖、ABA、PEG 3因素的组合固体成熟培养基上。【结果】以#1337为材料的体细胞胚成熟发育过程中,麦芽糖45 g·L^-1,获得的体细胞胚数量显著增多。ABA浓度为5～20 mg·L^-1,体细胞胚数量呈显著上升趋势,ABA为20 mg·L^-1时,获得的体细胞胚最多。125 g·L^-1PEG8000为体胚发生最佳浓度; AC 2 g·L^-1时,胚性细胞形成结构完整、数量较多的成熟体胚;成熟培养基中添加琼脂粉,培养基不能凝固,植物凝胶更适合作为成熟培养基凝固剂。3 g·L^-1植物凝胶为抗性黑松体胚发育成熟的最佳浓度。在设计的9种成熟培养基组合中(胚性细胞#1337、#1537、#1637),胚性细胞产生体细胞胚最多的成熟培养基组合为麦芽糖45 g·L^-1、ABA 10 mg·L^-1、PEG8000 125 g·L^-1。在不同的麦芽糖、ABA和PEG组合中,不同无性系生产体细胞胚数量呈现出不同的变化趋势:胚性细胞系#1337体胚发育成熟的最佳组合为麦芽糖45 g·L^-1+ABA 10 mg·L^-1+PEG 125 g·L^-1;#1537和#1637体胚发育成熟的最佳组合为麦芽糖30 g·L^-1+ABA 10 mg·L^-1+PEG 125 g·L^-1;在3个无性系中PEG的极差最大,对抗性黑松体细胞胚发育成熟的影响最大。【结论】抗性黑松体胚发育成熟过程中,麦芽糖45 g·L^-1、ABA20～30 mg·L^-1、PEG8000 125 g·L^-1、AC 2 g·L^-1和植物凝胶3 g·L^-1对体细胞胚成熟都具有促进作用。30 g·L^-1麦芽糖、10 mg·L^-1ABA、125 g·L^-1PEG为抗性黑松体胚发育成熟的最佳组合。     

火炬松胚性愈伤组织诱导和植株再生的研究

火炬松胚性愈伤组织诱导和植株再生的研究唐巍欧阳藩（中国科学院化工冶金研究所生化工程国家重点实验室北京１０００８０）郭仲琛（中国科学院植物研究所北京１０００９３关键词火炬松,体细胞胚胎发生,植株再生本文于１９９６年１０月２８日收到。国家“８６３”资...     

Maturation and plant recovery from embryogenic cells of Japanese larch: Effect of abscisic acid in relation to their morphology

Two embryogenic cell lines characterized by different morphology and color, white and red, were obtained from an immature zygotic embryo of Japanese larch (Larix leptolepis Gord.). Mature somatic embryos with cotyledons and regenerated plants were obtained from both cell lines. However optimal concentration of abscisic acid (ABA) for maturation varied depending on morphology of ECs. From the white ECs which intermingled with somatic embryos of very early stage, mature somatic embryos were induced on maturation medium containing 50 μM of ABA. On the other hand, mature somatic embryos with cotyledons were observed from the red ECs which consisted of somatic embryos of more developed stage on hormone-free medium or 0.1 μM ABA containing-medium.     

Initiation of somatic embryogenesis from immature zygotic embryos of oocarpa pine (Pinus oocarpa Schiede ex Schlectendal)

The focus of the current project was to establish somatic embryogenesis protocols for the tropical pine species Pinus oocarpa using immature zygotic embryos (ZEs) as explants. Somatic embryogenesis is best supported by mimicking natural seed-embryo developmental conditions, through a tissue culture medium formulation based on the mineral content of the seed nutritive tissue [megagametophyte (MG)]. A novel culture medium (P. oocarpa medium, PO) was tested in combination with different plant growth regulator (PGR) concentrations and compared with standard Pinus taeda media for the initiation of somatic embryogenesis from immature ZEs of P. oocarpa. Immature MGs containing immature ZEs of two mother trees were used with 12 and 8% extrusion rates for mother tree genotypes 3 and 5, respectively. In both mother trees the percentage capture was 2%. Multiplication of two captured cell lines (T5C2S01 and T5C1S12) was improved by lowering the concentrations of PGRs to 2.5 μM each 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and abscisic acid (ABA) plus 1.0 μM each 6-benzylaminopurine and kinetin. Mature somatic embryos formed on 40 μM ABA, 6% (w/v) maltose, 12% (w/v) PEG 8000 and 0.6% (w/v) Phytagel. While PO medium appeared suboptimal for somatic embryo induction, it did exhibit potential for enhanced culture proliferation and subsequent improved maturation with cell line T5C2S01, where microscopic analysis revealed better embryo morphology on PO medium than on 1250 medium. However, this enhancement was not observed with cell line T5C1S12. Germination was preceded by partial desiccation for a period of 2-3 weeks before transferring the embryos to germination medium. Germination was observed after 7 days under low light, and apical primordia slowly expanded after transfer to ex vitro conditions. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the production of somatic seedlings in P. oocarpa.     

Plantlet regeneration through somatic embryogenesis in Nordmann's fir (Abies nordmanniana)

I studied the influence of various combinations of auxin and cytokinin concentrations, and the increased content of zinc and enzymatic casein hydrolizate in SH medium on initiation and proliferation of embryogenic callus of Abies nordmanniana(Steven) Spach. Additionally, the effect of ABA, PEG-4000 and different wavelengths on the maturation of somatic embryos was tested.The use of optimum composition of modified SH medium with BA, KIN and 2.4-D while simultaneously ensuring appropriate external conditions resulted in 15.5 % embryogenesis. Finally, satisfactory results of micropropagation of A. nordmanniana by somatic embryogenesis were obtained providing seven lines of embryogenic callus with high proliferation capacity. Those lines gave properly developed seedlings in white LED light with a wavelength of 400-700 nm, preceded by eight-week vernalization treatment of the callus. This paper may provide a protocol by which all stages of somatic embryogenesis of A. nordmanniana can be carried out, including the preceding 24-h seed disinfection with Na OCl and PVP, which resulted in 100 % frequency of uninfected zygotic embryos that were capable of starting embryogenesis.     

Influences of altered phytohormone use on endogenous ABA and mRNA populations during white spruce (Picea glauca) somatic embryo culture

We examined endogenous abscisic acid [(+)-ABA] amounts and mRNA populations in white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) somatic embryos in liquid suspension culture during a pretreatment prior to induction of maturation with exogenous (+)-ABA. The pretreatment consisted of removal of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) from the multiplication medium for 7 days. The removal of 2,4-D resulted in a slight increase in endogenous ABA in pretreated tissues compared to nonpretreated tissues at the end of the 7-day pretreatment period (42.4 versus 20.0 pg mg(-1) lyophilized tissue). Altered gene expression patterns were observed as early as one day after the start of the pretreatment, with more than 17 new polypeptides found in pretreated tissues. The influence of pretreatment continued to be observed after tissues were transferred to ABA-containing maturation medium. By comparing mRNA populations in pretreated and nonpretreated tissues cultured on either ABA-containing or ABA-free maturation medium, at least 12 mRNAs were observed to be induced by ABA, among which three polypeptides were ABA inducible only in pretreated tissues.     

水曲柳体细胞胚与合子胚发生的细胞学研究

水曲柳(Fraxinus mandshurica)属木犀科(Oleaceae)白蜡树属,是我国东北重要珍贵硬阔树种之一,主要分布于小兴安岭、长白山、辽宁东部山地等地区, 以材质优良而著称.由于长期不合理的采伐利用,目前可利用的资源急剧减少,已被列为国家三级保护植物(傅立国,1992).进行水曲柳体细胞胚胎发生的研究,在资源保护、树种快繁和基因工程育种上有其重要的现实意义.     

Pine somatic embryogenesis: analyses of seed tissue and medium to improve protocol development

The shift from vegetative to embryogenic growth requires tissue to enter a radically different program of development and can be studied in vitro through the development of somatic embryos. From an applied perspective somatic embryogenesis (SE) is expected to play an important role in increasing productivity, sustainability, and uniformity of future forests. For commercial use, SE technology must work with a variety of genetically diverse trees. Since the first reports of SE in Picea abies and Larix decidua in 1985, many different coniferous species have shown the ability to produce embryogenic tissue. However, initiation frequency is often low, many desired seed sources are recalcitrant, and culture survival is often poor, raising costs of somatic seedlings produced from successful genotypes. A number of tools are now available to improve embryogenic tissue initiation and somatic embryo development in vitro that have resulted from analytical studies of seed tissues, the seed environment and gene expression in megagametophyte, zygotic embryos and somatic embryos. Benefits have occurred from medium supplementation with hormones, plant growth regulators, hormone inhibitors and polyamines. Somatic embryo growth has been enhanced with medium supplementation of nutritional components including specific sugar types, vitamins, organic acids, and redox potential modifiers. Control of environmental factors including, water potential, pH, adsorption of medium components by activated carbon and liquid versus gelled medium have also led to SE protocol improvements. The use of analytical studies to duplicate the seed environment in vitro is improving protocol development resulting in increased initiation, improved yields and higher-quality somatic embryos.     

Influence of osmotic pressure on somatic embryo maturation in Pinus densiflora

The effect of an osmoticum, polyethylene glycol (PEG), on somatic embryo production was examined using embryogenic cells of Pinus densiflora. In the basal medium containing 30 μM abscisic acid and 6% maltose, the quality of the embryos formed was poor even though somatic embryos were produced. The addition of PEG with molecular weight of 4000 or 8000 significantly enhanced the development of both the quality and quantity of somatic embryos. Furthermore, higher levels of a constant osmotic pressure with PEG 8000 in a range from about 300 to 450 mmol/kg could remarkably enhance the morphogenesis of somatic embryos and their number of embryos produced. A higher stable osmotic pressure with an appropriate molecular weight of PEG is a key factor for the production of good quality somatic embryos in P. densiflora.     

栓皮栎体胚的增殖、成熟和萌发

以栓皮栎实生苗叶片为外植体诱导体细胞胚胎发生,调查碳水化合物、渗透剂和植物生长调节剂对体胚增殖、成熟和萌发的影响,建立体胚增殖、成熟和萌发的培养基方案.叶片外植体在附加1.0 mg·L-1NAA和0.5mg·L-1BA的起始培养基上诱导形成前胚性团块.这些胚性团块在增殖培养基上培养6周,在附加1 mg·L-1BA、0.25 mg·L-1NAA和3%蔗糖的MS培养基上增殖效果最好.将单个体胚转接到成熟培养基上进行培养,蔗糖浓度对栓皮栎体胚成熟以及后续的萌发有显著影响.成熟培养基中附加5%的蔗糖,体胚成熟率和萌发率分别达到63.5%和33.8%.虽然在成熟培养基中附加ABA有利于体胚成熟,但对体胚的进一步萌发没有促进作用.为了提高萌发率,成熟体胚在附加植物生长调节剂的萌发培养基上进行培养,以及进行预冷处理.成熟体胚4℃冷处理没有促进胚根和上胚轴的发育萌发.在附加0.5 mg·L-1BA和0.25 mg·L-1 IBA的1/2 MS萌发培养基上,体胚萌发率达到65.9%,再生植株转化率达到9.4%.     

利用悬浮培养和培养基选择改善火炬松的体细胞胚胎发生和植株再生(英文)

三个基固型的火炬松成熟合子胚被培养在附加 8mg·L-12 ,4 D ,4mg·L-1BA ,4mg·L-1KT ,5 0 0mg·L-1水解酪蛋白和 5 0 0mg·L-1谷氨酰胺的愈伤组织诱导培养基上诱导愈伤组织 .来自于子叶、胚轴和胚根的愈伤组织在附加 1 6mg·L-12 ,4 D ,0 8mg·L-1BA和 0 8mg·L-1KT的愈伤组织增殖培养基上培养 9周后 ,可获得 16 9%的胚性愈伤组织 .通过建立胚性细胞悬浮系和研究ABA、PEG和活性炭对体细胞胚成熟的促进作用 ,优化的体细胞胚胎发生体系被建立 .71棵再生小苗被用于移栽试验 ,2 3棵小苗在田间移栽成活     

Storage lipid dynamics in somatic embryos of Norway spruce (Picea abies): histochemical and quantitative analyses

Adequate storage compounds are a prerequisite for successful development during the later stages of somatic embryogenesis; however, the critical amount of reserves below which somatic embryos fail to mature and germinate has not been determined. We analyzed storage lipids during Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) somatic embryogenesis. As maturation progressed, lipids, which were stored as lipid bodies in the cytoplasm, were localized first in suspensor cells of the early embryos, and later in the embryonic root pole, superficial layers of the hypocotyl and in cotyledons. The concentration of total lipids exhibited marked variation, with values peaking during cotyledon development and then decreasing during maturation. Linoleic (18:2), oleic (18:1), palmitic (16:0) and 5,9-octadecenic (5,9-18:2) acids were the most abundant fatty acids in embryos. As embryos developed, linoleic acid concentration increased slightly, whereas oleic acid concentration decreased. Oleic acid was the most prominent component of the fatty acid spectrum in isolated dormant zygotic embryos and megagametophytes. Addition of 5% polyethylene glycol to the medium during somatic embryo maturation caused a shift in the fatty acid spectrum toward that of zygotic embryos. During maturation, changes in the exogenous carbohydrate supply had no significant effect on total lipid concentration in mature embryos. A marked decrease in lipid concentration was detected during desiccation, indicating the importance of adequate lipid reserves during this developmental stage. The lipid content of zygotic embryos differed considerably with harvest year and location, suggesting that zygotic embryo data cannot be an indicator of somatic embryo quality.