IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,950,183
Granted Patent B2
US 7,950,183 · App. 12/103,370 · Granted May 31, 2011

Methods of producing a synchronized population of conifer somatic embryo germinants

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,950,183
App. No.
12/103,370
Granted
May 31, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one aspect, the present invention provides methods of producing a synchronized population of conifer somatic embryo germinants in preparation for transplantation. The methods of the invention comprise the steps of: (a) culturing conifer somatic embryos on sterile germination medium for a sufficient period of time to produce germinants comprising a visible, well-defined epicotyl stem of a desired length; (b) selecting a plurality of germinants having an epicotyl stem of the desired length; (c) storing the selected germinants having an epicotyl stem of the desired length produced in step (a) while still on the sterile germination medium from step (a) in a cold environment in which the temperature is in the range of 0.5° C. to 10° C. for a time period up to six months; and (d) transferring the germinants stored according to step (c) from the germination medium into water for a time of up to about four weeks at a temperature of about 0.5° C. to about 5° C. prior to planting the selected germinants into growth medium.

Claims (14)

1. A method of producing a synchronized population of conifer somatic embryo germinants in preparation for transplantation, comprising:

(a) culturing conifer somatic embryos on sterile germination medium for a sufficient period of time to produce germinants comprising a visible, well-defined epicotyl stem of a desired length;

(b) selecting a plurality of germinants having an epicotyl stem of the desired length;

(c) storing the selected germinants having an epicotyl stem of the desired length produced in step (a) while still on the sterile germination medium from step (a) in a cold environment in which the temperature is in the range of 0.5° C. to 10° C. for a time period up to six months; and

(d) transferring the germinants stored according to step (c) from the germination medium into water for a time of up to about four weeks at a temperature of about 0.5° C. to about 5° C. prior to planting the selected germinants into growth medium.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of planting the germinants in growth medium.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the desired length is an epicotyl stem length of at least 10 mm.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the germinants are planted in a clonal field test.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the germinants are Douglas-fir.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the germinants are loblolly pine.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the desired length is an epicotyl stem length of about 10 mm to about 20 mm.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the desired length is an epicotyl stem length of about 12 mm.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the desired length is an epicotyl stem length of about 15 mm.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the germinants are stored in water according to step (d) for a time of from about one week to about two weeks.