Somatic Embryogenesis in Coffea spp.

Coffee is a very important commodity in the world. It is a perennial plant and as a consequence its genetic improvement had been difficult. The biotechnology, in particular somatic embryogenesis (SE) has helped to the propagation of commercial coffee cultivars. Along almost 50 years, different research groups around the world have developed uncountable SE processes to produce an efficient, reproducible, and reliable SE process. Many of the factors that affect the embryogenic response have been studied. It has been demonstrated that the genetic modification of coffee is possible. This transformation can lead to the improvement of varieties with very attractive agronomic traits, such as low caffeine content, resistant to diseases and pests.