The Relationship Between Stress and Somatic Embryogenesis

Plants have a high plasticity for cell differentiation that not only allow them to regenerate damaged parts of their body but under certain conditions, plant cells can regain totipotency and change their developmental fate to re-differentiate into a somatic embryo and finally a whole plant. The ability to change their cell fate and generate somatic embryos is restricted to a discrete group of cells. Somatic embryogenesis (SE) is a complex phenomenon, and it is poorly understood. SE can start in various ways and the differential response among cells can be stimulated by several factors, among them highlight the genotype, the physiological state and the origin of the explants, as well as the medium culture or the plant growth regulators (PGRs) used for in vitro culture. However, several stress treatments such as low or high temperature, heavy metals, osmotic shock, among others, might play a crucial role in SE induction, even in the absence of exogenous PGRs. Here, we will provide an overview about the role of stresses and their influence on SE induction.