Artificial seeds

Dr. Manisha Thapliyal

Artificial Plant Seed Production

Artificial seeds were first introduced in the 1970s as a novel

analogue to the plant seeds. The production of artificial seeds
is especially useful for the plants which do not produce viable
seeds. It represents a method to propagate these plants.
Artificial seeds are small sized and this provides further
advantages in storage, handling shipping and planting.

Artificial seeds can be produced by encapsulating a plant

propagule in a matrix which will allow it to grow into a plant.
Plant propagules may consist of shoot buds or somatic
embryos that have been grown aseptically in tissue culture. In
culture these plant propagules can easily grow into individual
plants as we have the capacity to control its growth using
chemicals provided in the culture media.
In the production of artificial seeds, an artificial endosperm
can be created within the encapsulation matrix. The
encapsulation matrix is a hydrogel made of natural extracts
from seaweeds (agar or alginate), plants (arabic or
tragacanth), Seed gums (guar, locust bean gum or tamarind)
or microorganisms (dextran, gellan or xanthan gum). These
compounds will gel when mixed with or dropped into an
appropriate electrolyte (CuSO4, CaCl2, NH4Cl). Ionic bonds
are formed to produce stable compounds. Useful nutrients,
plant growth regulators, pesticide and fungicide can be
supplied to the plant propagule within the encapsulation
matrix.
Somatic embryos
Somatic embryos are bipolar structures with both apical and
basal meristematic regions, which are capable of producing
shoot and root respectively.A plant derived from somatic
embryo is sometimes referred to as an ‘embling’.
One prerequisite for the application of the synthetic seed
technology in the micropropagation is the production of high-
quality, vigorous somatic embryos that can produce plants
with the frequencies comparable to natural seeds. Inability to
recover such embryos is often a major limitation in the
development of synthetic seeds.
Alginate hydrogel is frequently selected as a matrix for synthetic seed
because of its moderate viscosity, low toxicity for somatic embryos and quick
gellation, low cost and biocompatibility characteristics.
Procedure for production of synthetic seeds
Establish somatic embryogenesis
Mature somatic embryos
Mass production of somatic embryos
Standardization of encapsulations
Standardization of artificial endosperm
Mass production of synthetic seeds
Greenhouse and field planting.

Addition of nutrients and growth regulators to the encapsulation

matrix results in increase in efficiency of germination and viability
of encapsulated somatic embryos.
Making artificial seeds

Shoot buds cut from shoot

cultures are cut into 2-3 mm
size and placed in
encapsulation matrix

Somatic embryos formed

from cultured plant parts
are ideal for artificial seed
production
 Using a sterile 10 ml
pippette the shoot
bud/somatic embryo is
drawn up with some
encapsulation matrix

Artificial/synthetic seeds
Capsule of artificial seeds are collected by decanting off the
solution and rinsed in water
Artificial seeds should be
- pliable enough to cushion and protect embryo
- yet allow germination and growth of shoot bud or embryo
- rigid enough to withstand rough handling during
manufacture, transportation and planting.
Incorporation of activated charcoal improves conversion and
vigour of encapsulated somatic embryos as it breaks up the
alginate and increases respiration of the embryos
Synthetic seeds can be stored for a longer period of even upto
six months without loosing viability, especially when stored at
40C