Reproductive Potential of Conifers, Somatic Embryogenesis and Apomixis
I. N. Tretyakova, V. V. Mineev
Abstract
The article presents the results of the analysis of available data on the reproduction (sexual reproduction and asexual reproduction or apomixis) of plants of the Pinopsida class. The realization of apomixis in conifers was considered. This method of asexual reproduction is manifested in cases of seed formation’s disruption. A specific type of reproduction in conifers is somatic embryogenesis in in vitro culture. It is shown that the transition of somatic cells to the totipotent and embryogenic state in conifers occurs at the morphogenetic, physiological-biochemical, and molecular genetics levels. The commonality of morphogenetic processes underlying somatic and zygotic embryogenesis is revealed. The position of somatic embryogenesis in the reproduction system of conifers is considered.