While working in the laboratory of Professor Dr. Jacob Reinert at the Freie Universitat Berlin (1974-1976), I had the opportunity to become deeply involved in studying the intricacies of the fascinating phenomenon of somatic embryogenesis in plant cells and protoplasts. In numerous stimu­ lating discussions with Professor Reinert on this subject, I was fully convinced that somatic embryogenesis would become one of the most important areas of study, not only regarding basic and fundamental aspects, but also for its application in crop improvement. During the last decade, we have witnessed tremendous interest and achievements in the use of somatic embryos for the production of synthetic seeds, for micro prop a­ gation, genetic transformation, cryopreservation, and conservation of germplasm. The en masse production of somatic embryos in the bioreactors has facilitated some of these studies. Somatic embryos have now been induced in more than 300 plant species belonging to a wide range offamilies. It was therefore felt that a compilation ofliterature/state of the art on this subject was necessary. Thus, two volumes on Somatic Embryo­ genesis and Synthetic Seed have been compiled, which contain 65 chapters contributed by International experts. Somatic Embryogenesis and Synthetic Seed I comprises 31 chapters, arranged in 3 sections: Section I Commitment of the cell to somatic embryogenesis; early events; anatomy; molecular basis; gene expression; role of polyamines; machine vision analysis of somatic embryos. Section II Applications of somatic embryos; technology of synthetic seed; fluid drilling; micropropagation; genetic transfor­ mation through somatic embryos; cryopreservation.

Section I Somatic Embryogenesis in Cereal and Grasses.- I.1 Somatic Embryogenesis in Wheat.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Somatic Embryogenesis.- 3 Summary and Conclusions.- 4 Protocol.- References.- I.2 Somatic Embryogenesis in Rice (Oryza sativa L.).- 1 Introduction.- 2 Somatic Embryogenesis.- 3 Summary and Conclusions.- 4 Protocol to Induce Somatic Embryogenesis in the Scutellum Epithelium of Mature Rice Embryos.- References.- I.3 Somatic Embryogenesis in Maize {Zea mays L.).- 1 Introduction.- 2 Somatic Embryogenesis.- 3 Summary and Conclusions.- 4 Protocol for Induction of Somatic Embryos.- References.- I.4 Somatic Embryogenesis in Rye (Secale cereale L.).- 1 Introduction.- 2 An Overview of Rye Tissue Culture.- 3 Somatic Embryogenesis.- 4 Conclusions.- 5 Protocol for the Induction of Embryogenic Callus from Immature Inflorescences.- References.- I.5 Somatic Embryogenesis in Oat (.Avena sativa L.).- 1 Introduction.- 2 Establishment of Callus Culture and Somatic Embryogenesis.- 3 Summary.- References.- I.6 Somatic Embryogenesis in Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) and Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea).- 1 Introduction.- 2 Somatic Embryogenesis.- 3 Factors Controlling Plant regeneration.- 4 Application of the Protocol to Other Lolium and Festuca Species, and Efficiency of regeneration.- 5 Conclusion.- References.- I.7 Somatic Embryogenesis in Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.).- 1 Introduction.- 2 Leaf Culture.- 3 Suspension Culture.- 4 Genotype.- 5 Protoplast Culture and Gene Transfer.- 6 Conclusions.- 7 Protocols to Induce Somatic Embryogenesis.- References.- I.8 Somatic Embryogenesis In Bluestem Grasses (Bothriochloa Species).- 1 Introduction.- 2 Somatic Embryogenesis and Plant Regeneration.- 3 A Protocol for Regenerating Plants from Caucasian Bluestem Seed Explants.- 4 Applications.- References.- I.9 Somatic Embryogenesis in Sugarcane (Saccharum Species).- 1 Introduction.- 2 Review of Sugarcane Somatic Embryogenesis.- 3 Structural and Biochemical Aspects of Sugarcane Somatic Embryogenesis.- 4 Summary and Conclusions.- 5 Protocol for the Induction and Expression of Somatic Embryogenesis.- References.- Section II Somatic Embryogenesis in Vegetables and Fruits.- II. 1 Somatic Embryogenesis in Asparagus.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Somatic Embryogenesis.- 3 Conclusions.- 4 Protocol.- References.- II.2 Somatic Embryogenesis in Chicory (Cichorium Species).- 1 Introduction 1.- 2 Somatic Embryogenesis.- 3 Protocol for the Induction of Somatic Embryos.- 4 Summary and Conclusion.- References.- II.3 Somatic Embryogenesis in Cucurbits.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Somatic Embryogenesis in cucumis sativus.- 3 Somatic Embryogenesis in cucurbita pepo L.- 4 Conclusion.- 5 Protocols for the Induction of Somatic Embryos Used in Our Laboratory.- References.- II.4 Somatic Embryogenesis in Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.).- 1 Introduction.- 2 Somatic Embryogenesis.- 3 Transformation.- 4 Summary and Conclusions.- 5 A Protocol for the Induction, Multiplication, and Regeneration of Somatic Embryos.- References.- II.5 Somatic Embryogenesis and Organogenesis in Okra {Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench.).- 1 Introduction.- 2 Somatic Embryogenesis.- 3 Summary and Conclusions.- 4 Protocol.- References.- II.6 Somatic Embryogenesis and Artificial Seed in Carrot (Daucus carota L.).- 1 General Account.- 2 Somatic Embryogenesis.- 3 Artificial Seed.- 4 Summary.- 5 Protocols.- References.- II.7 Somatic Embryogenesis in Bananas and Plantains (Musa Clones and Species).- 1 Introduction.- 2 Somatic Embryogenesis.- 3 Conclusions..- References.- Section III Somatic Embryogenesis in Legumes and in Oilseed Crops.- III. 1 Somatic Embryogenesis in Legumes.- 1 Introduction..- 2 Induction of an Embryogénie State.- 3 Histodifferentiation of Somatic Embryos.- 4 Maturation of Somatic Embryos.- 5 Desiccation, Germination, Conversion, and Artificial Seed.- 6 Role of Other Medium Components..- 7 Somatic Embryogenesis and Somaclonal Variation.- 8 Repetitive Embryogenesis and Mass Propagation.- 9 Conclusions.- 10 Protocols for Somatic Embryogenesis.- References.- III.2 Somatic Embryogenesis in Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.).- 1 Introduction.- 2 Somatic Embryogenesis.- 3 Summary and Conclusions.- 4 Protocol for the Induction of Somatic Embryos from the Axes of Mature Peanut Embryos.- References.- III.3 Somatic Embryogenesis in Soybean (Glycine Species).- 1 Introduction.- 2 Somatic Embryogenesis.- 3 Maturation and Germination.- 4 Summary and Conclusion.- 5 Protocol.- References.- III.4 Somatic Embryogenesis in Cotton (Gossypium spp.).- 1 Introduction.- 2 Somatic Embryogenesis.- 3 Summary and Conclusions.- 4 Protocol for Somatic Embryogenesis in G. hirsutum.- References.- III.5 Somatic Embryogenesis and Pattern of Peroxidases in White Mustard (Sinapis alba L. syn. Brassica hirta Moench.).- 1 Introduction.- 2 Material and Methods.- 3 Results and Discussion.- 4 Summary.- References.- III.6 Somatic Embryogenesis and Clonal Propagation in Meadowfoam (Limnanthes Species).- 1 Introduction.- 2 Somatic Embryogenesis.- 3 Summary and Conclusions.- 4 Protocol for Induction of Somatic Embryos.- References.- Section IV Ornamental, Medicinal, and Miscellaneous Plants.- IV. 1 Somatic Embryogenesis in Daylily (.Hemerocallis).- 1 Introduction.- 2 Somatic Embryogenesis.- References.- IV.2 Somatic Embryogenesis in Freesia refracta.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Somatic Embryogenesis.- 3 Summary.- 4 Protocol.- References.- IV.3 Somatic Embryogenesis and Synthetic Seed in Apium graveiolens (Celery).- 1 Introduction.- 2 Pathways of Somatic Embryogenesis.- 3 Factors Affecting Embryogenesis.- 4 Large-Scale Production.- 5 Synthetic Seeds and Coated Embryos.- 6 Genetic Variability of Somatic Embryos.- 7 Summary.- 8 Protocol.- References.- IV.4 Somatic Embryogenesis and Artificial Seeds in Coptis chinensis.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Somatic Embryogenesis.- 3 Artificial Seeds.- 4 Summary and Conclusions.- 5 Protocol.- References.- IV. 5 Somatic Embryogenesis and Artificial Seed in Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.).- 1 Introduction.- 2 Somatic Embryogenesis.- 3 Production of Artificial Seeds.- 4 Discussion and Conclusion 340 5 Protocol for the Induction of Somatic Embryos.- References.- IV.6 Somatic Embryogenesis in Ginseng {Panax species).- 1 Introduction.- 2 Somatic Emb…