Synthetic Seed Technology in Some Ornamental and Medicinal Plants: An Overview

Abstract

Synthetic seed technology has been successfully employed in various medicinal and ornamental plants. It has immense potential in preserving callus, somatic embryo (SE), and other important tissues of valuable germplasm. The method can also be exploited as a tool of multiplication in diverse plant groups. Synthetic seed production in plants facilitates season-independent propagation of elite germplasm, accelerates seedless, ornamental, and ploidy plants multiplication with unique traits. Synthetic seed/encapsulation approach has a high beneficiary role in improved and fast transportation of propagules. The obligatory requirement for application of artificial seed technology en masse involves high-scale production of quality micro-propagules, which nowadays is a serious limiting factor. There are numerous factors controlling the success of development and germination of synthetic seeds. These include matured quality embryos, temperature, storage time, sodium alginate percentage, calcium chloride concentration, hardening time, and plant growth regulators (PGRs) concentrations. Encapsulation technology is an emerging area to open new vista in conserving, propagating, and shipment of valuable plant material for research affecting floriculture and pharmaceutical industry. In this chapter, the artificial seed technique status is reviewed in some plants of ornamental and medicinal importance.