Prospects for using somatic embryogenesis and cryo-preservation of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) in the UK

摘要

Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) is the UK's pre-eminent commercial tree species and accounts for nearly two thirds of the country's wood production. For this reason, Forest Research (FR) has maintained an active Sitka spruce tree breeding programme. Breeding has historically been carried out in a traditional manner and, until recently, tissue culture had not been used at any stage of the breeding or tree propagation process. This article discusses the progress that has been made for incorporating tissue culture methods into FR's breeding protocols for Sitka spruce, including (i) for initiating and proliferating embryogenic cell cultures; (ii) producing somatic embryo (SE) clonal plants derived from these cultures, and (iii) successfully cryo-preserving selected cell lines, so that plants can still be produced according to demand in many years' time. The prospects for establishing a multi-varietal forestry approach (MVF) with UK breeding of Sitka spruce are also discussed, including the likely extra cost of such plants if they were ever made available commercially.