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Mechanism of Plant Somatic Embryogenesis
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Mechanism of Plant Somatic Embryogenesis

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Cell Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 May 2022) | Viewed by 17035

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Víctor M. Loyola-Vargas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Unidad de Biología Integrativa, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán 97205, CP, Mexico
Interests: study the processes that trigger somatic embryogenesis; particularly the role of growth regulators; tools such as transcriptomics; proteomics; CRISPR editing; metabolomics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Neftalí Ochoa-Alejo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Ingeniería Genética, Unidad Irapuato, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Irapuato 36824, Guanajuato, Mexico
Interests: Capsicum; chili pepper; tissue culture; biochemistry; molecular biology; secondary compounds; transcriptomics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plants possess a unique mechanism of cell differentiation—the production of embryos from somatic cells. For just over 60 years, we have seen an exponential increase in the literature on this topic. Although it started timidly in model plants such as carrots and datura, there are currently hundreds of species in which somatic embryogenesis has been induced from model plants to ornamental, cereal, and forest plants. The applications of this powerful tool range from the study of the fundamental aspects of cell differentiation to its commercial application for the propagation of plants of agronomic and industrial interest or the production of artificial seed. Significant progress has been made in understanding the mechanisms that lead a cell to change its genetic program to become an embryo and eventually a new plant. However, an essential part of the cellular, physiological, biochemical, and molecular processes that lead to the formation of the somatic embryo are still unknown. For example, it is mainly unknown how auxins, cytokinins, and brassinosteroids interact with each other during the induction process of somatic embryogenesis. We also do not know what role the transport of the different growth regulators plays during the induction of somatic embryogenesis.

Specific topics of interest to this Special Issue include but are not limited to the following:

  • Cryopreservation of somatic embryos.
  • Factors affecting somatic embryogenesis.
  • The role of endogenous auxin and cytokinin concentration in somatic embryogenesis.
  • The role of transcription factors in somatic embryogenesis.
  • Somatic embryogenesis and genetic transformation.
  • The molecular networks that lead to somatic embryogenesis.
  • Genetic expression during somatic embryogenesis.
  • Epigenetic aspects of somatic embryogenesis.
  • Escalation of somatic embryogenesis.
  • The genetic fidelity of plants obtained by somatic embryogenesis.
  • Stress as a factor in somatic embryogenesis.
  • The use of somatic embryogenesis to obtain secondary metabolites.
  • Histological studies in somatic embryogenesis.
  • The translation of signals during somatic embryogenesis.
  • Differences in somatic embryogenesis between monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants.
  • The production of artificial seed from somatic embryos.
  • Somatic embryogenesis from haploids.
  • The use of proteomics and transcriptomics for the study of somatic embryogenesis.

Dr. Víctor M. Loyola-Vargas
Prof. Dr. Neftalí Ochoa-Alejo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Somatic embryogenesis
  • cell differentiation
  • morphogenesis
  • plant tissue culture

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 4232 KiB  
Article
Auxin-Cytokinin Cross Talk in Somatic Embryogenesis of Coffea canephora
by Johny R. Avilez-Montalvo, Ana O. Quintana-Escobar, Hugo A. Méndez-Hernández, Víctor Aguilar-Hernández, Ligia Brito-Argáez, Rosa M. Galaz-Ávalos, Miguel A. Uc-Chuc and Víctor M. Loyola-Vargas
Plants 2022, 11(15), 2013; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11152013 - 2 Aug 2022
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3604
Abstract
Cytokinins (CK) are plant growth regulators involved in multiple physiological processes in plants. One less studied aspect is CK homeostasis (HM). The primary genes related to HM are involved in biosynthesis (IPT), degradation (CKX), and signaling (ARR). This paper demonstrates the effect of [...] Read more.
Cytokinins (CK) are plant growth regulators involved in multiple physiological processes in plants. One less studied aspect is CK homeostasis (HM). The primary genes related to HM are involved in biosynthesis (IPT), degradation (CKX), and signaling (ARR). This paper demonstrates the effect of auxin (Aux) and CK and their cross talk in a Coffea canephora embryogenic system. The transcriptome and RT-qPCR suggest that Aux in pre-treatment represses biosynthesis, degradation, and signal CK genes. However, in the induction, there is an increase of genes implicated in the CK perception/signal, indicating perhaps, as in other species, Aux is repressing CK, and CK are inducing per se genes involved in its HM. This is reflected in the endogenous concentration of CK; pharmacology experiments helped study the effect of each plant growth regulator in our SE system. We conclude that the Aux–CK balance is crucial to directing somatic embryogenesis in C. canephora. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanism of Plant Somatic Embryogenesis)
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12 pages, 2818 KiB  
Article
Synthetic Strigolactone GR24 Improves Arabidopsis Somatic Embryogenesis through Changes in Auxin Responses
by Mohamed Elhiti, Mohammed M. Mira, Kenny K. Y. So, Claudio Stasolla and Kim H. Hebelstrup
Plants 2021, 10(12), 2720; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10122720 - 10 Dec 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3654
Abstract
Somatic embryogenesis in Arabidopsis encompasses an induction phase requiring auxin as the inductive signal to promote cellular dedifferentiation and formation of the embryogenic tissue, and a developmental phase favoring the maturation of the embryos. Strigolactones (SLs) have been categorized as a novel group [...] Read more.
Somatic embryogenesis in Arabidopsis encompasses an induction phase requiring auxin as the inductive signal to promote cellular dedifferentiation and formation of the embryogenic tissue, and a developmental phase favoring the maturation of the embryos. Strigolactones (SLs) have been categorized as a novel group of plant hormones based on their ability to affect physiological phenomena in plants. The study analyzed the effects of synthetic strigolactone GR24, applied during the induction phase, on auxin response and formation of somatic embryos. The expression level of two SL biosynthetic genes, MOREAXILLARY GROWTH 3 and 4 (MAX3 and MAX4), which are responsible for the conversion of carotene to carotenal, increased during the induction phase of embryogenesis. Arabidopsis mutant studies indicated that the somatic embryo number was inhibited in max3 and max4 mutants, and this effect was reversed by applications of GR24, a synthetic strigolactone, and exacerbated by TIS108, a SL biosynthetic inhibitor. The transcriptional studies revealed that the regulation of GR24 and TIS108 on somatic embryogenesis correlated with changes in expression of AUXIN RESPONSIVE FACTORs 5, 8, 10, and 16, known to be required for the production of the embryogenic tissue, as well as the expression of WUSCHEL (WUS) and Somatic Embryogenesis Receptor-like Kinase 1 (SERK1), which are markers of cell dedifferentiation and embryogenic tissue formation. Collectively, this work demonstrated the novel role of SL in enhancing the embryogenic process in Arabidopsis and its requirement for inducing the expression of genes related to auxin signaling and production of embryogenic tissue. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanism of Plant Somatic Embryogenesis)
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20 pages, 3133 KiB  
Article
Genome-Wide Analysis, Modeling, and Identification of Amino Acid Binding Motifs Suggest the Involvement of GH3 Genes during Somatic Embryogenesis of Coffea canephora
by Hugo A. Méndez-Hernández, Ana O. Quintana-Escobar, Miguel A. Uc-Chuc and Víctor M. Loyola-Vargas
Plants 2021, 10(10), 2034; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10102034 - 28 Sep 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2822
Abstract
Auxin plays a central role in growth and plant development. To maintain auxin homeostasis, biological processes such as biosynthesis, transport, degradation, and reversible conjugation are essential. The Gretchen Hagen 3 (GH3) family genes codify for the enzymes that esterify indole-3-acetic acid [...] Read more.
Auxin plays a central role in growth and plant development. To maintain auxin homeostasis, biological processes such as biosynthesis, transport, degradation, and reversible conjugation are essential. The Gretchen Hagen 3 (GH3) family genes codify for the enzymes that esterify indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) to various amino acids, which is a key process in the induction of somatic embryogenesis (SE). The GH3 family is one of the principal families of early response to auxin genes, exhibiting IAA-amido synthetase activity to maintain optimal levels of free auxin in the cell. In this study, we carried out a systematic identification of the GH3 gene family in the genome of Coffea canephora, determining a total of 18 CcGH3 genes. Analysis of the genetic structures and phylogenetic relationships of CcGH3 genes with GH3 genes from other plant species revealed that they could be clustered in two major categories with groups 1 and 2 of the GH3 family of Arabidopsis. We analyzed the transcriptome expression profiles of the 18 CcGH3 genes using RNA-Seq analysis-based data and qRT-PCR during the different points of somatic embryogenesis induction. Furthermore, the endogenous quantification of free and conjugated indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) suggests that the various members of the CcGH3 genes play a crucial role during the embryogenic process of C. canephora. Three-dimensional modeling of the selected CcGH3 proteins showed that they consist of two domains: an extensive N-terminal domain and a smaller C-terminal domain. All proteins analyzed in the present study shared a unique conserved structural topology. Additionally, we identified conserved regions that could function to bind nucleotides and specific amino acids for the conjugation of IAA during SE in C. canephora. These results provide a better understanding of the C. canephora GH3 gene family for further exploration and possible genetic manipulation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanism of Plant Somatic Embryogenesis)
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Review

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16 pages, 567 KiB  
Review
Transduction of Signals during Somatic Embryogenesis
by Mohamed Elhiti and Claudio Stasolla
Plants 2022, 11(2), 178; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11020178 - 11 Jan 2022
Cited by 44 | Viewed by 4807
Abstract
Somatic embryogenesis (SE) is an in vitro biological process in which bipolar structures (somatic embryos) can be induced to form from somatic cells and regenerate into whole plants. Acquisition of the embryogenic potential in culture is initiated when some competent cells within the [...] Read more.
Somatic embryogenesis (SE) is an in vitro biological process in which bipolar structures (somatic embryos) can be induced to form from somatic cells and regenerate into whole plants. Acquisition of the embryogenic potential in culture is initiated when some competent cells within the explants respond to inductive signals (mostly plant growth regulators, PRGs), and de-differentiate into embryogenic cells. Such cells, “canalized” into the embryogenic developmental pathway, are able to generate embryos comparable in structure and physiology to their in vivo counterparts. Genomic and transcriptomic studies have identified several pathways governing the initial stages of the embryogenic process. In this review, the authors emphasize the importance of the developmental signals required for the progression of embryo development, starting with the de-differentiation of somatic cells and culminating with tissue patterning during the formation of the embryo body. The action and interaction of PGRs are highlighted, along with the participation of master regulators, mostly transcription factors (TFs), and proteins involved in stress responses and the signal transduction required for the initiation of the embryogenic process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanism of Plant Somatic Embryogenesis)
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