Efficient Procedure for Induction Somatic Embryogenesis in Holm Oak: Roles of Explant Type, Auxin Type, and Exposure Duration to Auxin

Abstract

Holm oak is the dominant tree species in the Mediterranean climate. Currently, worrisome degradation of its ecosystems has been observed, produced, among other factors, by changes in land use, extreme weather events, forest fires, climate change, and especially the increasingly frequent episodes of high tree mortality caused by “oak decline”, which has brought with it a social concern that transcends the productive interest. Breeding and conservation programs for this species are necessary to ensure the prevalence of these ecosystems for future generations. Biotechnological tools such as somatic embryogenesis (SE) have great potential value for tree improvement and have been shown to be highly efficient in the propagation and conservation of woody species. One challenge to this approach is that SE induction in holm oak has not yet been optimized. Here, we present a new reproducible procedure to induce SE in holm oak; we evaluated the responsiveness of different initial explants exposed to different types, concentrations, and durations of auxin. SE rates were significantly improved (37%) by culturing nodal segments for two weeks in induction medium. In addition, a significant auxin–genotype interaction was observed.