PROCESS FOR CREATING AN ANALOG TO BOTANIC SEEDS USING DEHYDRATED MERISTEMATIC TISSUE ENCAPSULATED IN A HYDRATED GEL

摘要

Methods and materials are provided for desiccated analogs of botanic seeds which are created by removing a portion of the water by slow or fast drying so that the plant tissue is no longer saturated with water. In a second embodiment, the meristematic tissue is encapsulated in a gel or polymer followed by dehydration. In another embodiment, the meristematic tissue is dehydrated prior to encapsulation in a gel. Protectants can be incorporated in the gel capsule. Meristematic tissue can be isolated from, for example, somatic embryos, zygotic and germ line sources.