Factors affecting germination and conversion frequency of somatic embryos of tea [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. !Kuntze]

The cause of poor and abnormal germination of tea somatic embryos was investigated with respect to (a) the different factors that affect reserve mobilisation viz. chilling, desiccation or GA(3) and (b) those that affect the maturation process and reserve accumulation viz. ABA. Tea somatic embryos were sensitive to desiccation and their normal development or germination could not be evoked by external agents like chilling and GA(3). Supplementation with external sources of nutrient precursors and readily available forms of carbohydrates like sucrose or maltose together with trans-cinnamic acid improved the germination of the somatic embryos significantly.