Gene Expression Differences Between Zygotic and Somatic Embryos Monitored by Differential Display and cDNA Array: A Potential Tool to Improve Loblolly Pine Somatic Embryo Quality

Abstract

A continued supply of low cost, high quality fiber is essential for the future success of the U.S. forest products industry. With the worldwide demand for paper expected to increase nearly 50% by the year 2010, efforts are increasing to boost forest productivity by propagating superior trees. Clonal propagation of high value forest trees through somatic embryogenesis (SE) has the potential to rapidly capture the benefits of breeding or genetic engineering programs and to improve raw material uniformity and quality. Clonal propagation research at the Institute of Paper Science and Technology (IPST) currently centers on SE of loblolly pine (Pinus taedd). Loblolly pine is dominant on 11.7 million ha. and comprises over half of the standing pine volume in southern U.S. forests due to its fast growth, broad natural range, response to cultural practices, resistance to disease and ice damage, and genetic variability for breeding (Westvaco 1998).