SUMMARY

Production of clonal propagules from selected superior genotypes has been playing a vital role in large scale production of high value plants for forestry, agricultural applications, biofuel production, ornamental purposes, or molecular pharming within the pharmaceutical sector. Among different techniques, somatic embryogenesis has shown potential in clonal propagation of many ornamental, medicinal, and agricultural plant species because of its advantages in terms of formation of matured embryos, embryo preservation, automation of the process, etc. However the implementation of somatic embryogenesis for large scale clonal propagation of plants and agricultural goods is affected by the non-synchronous development of somatic embryos. It can be assumed that the cells in a cluster of somatic embryos receive different levels of nutrients due to their location within the cluster, there by causes the asynchronous embryo development. Hence the focus of this research is to gain insight into the role of mechanical stress in synchronized development of somatic embryos in liquid and solid culture medium. Our efforts are directed towards developing a technology based on mechanical stress delivered by fluid dynamics to disintegrate the clusters. This will help to provide a more predictable dispersion in favor of synchronization of embryo development.