Somatic embryogenesis in mature Quercus robur trees

Somatic embryo induction and plant regeneration have been obtained in tissues from mature Quercus robur L. trees. Epicormic shoots were forced to flush in branch segments collected from the crown of trees growing in selected stands on different collection dates. Expanding leaves from five genotypes, cultured following a multistage treatment procedure, produced somatic embryos at frequencies ranging from 0.3 to 3.6% of leaf explants, depending on genotype and collection date. After being induced, somatic embryos started a recurrent process by secondary embryogenesis which amplified the 15 embryogenic lines established. Plant recovery was achieved in 60% and 17% of matured embryos from two genotypes.