Improving the Secondary Somatic Embryogenetic Response of Vitis vinifera (Bunch Grapes) and Vitis rotundifolia (Muscadine Grapes) to Advance Genetic Aptitude

Secondary embryogenesis is the process by which somatic embryos (SE) arise from other embryos and is used to provide sufficient target tissue for gene insertion experiments. Unfavorable traits of Vitis vinifera and Vitis rotundifolia such as susceptibility to disease, a thick exocarp, bitterness and presence of seeds in the former, may be altered via the use of biotechnologies such as somatic hybridization, recombinant DNA technology, or a combination of these techniques. Development of needed biotechnological techniques, however, may be limited due to the lack of certain resources, like adequate target tissues (somatic embryos), which is the subject of my research. To conduct experiments aimed at improving secondary SE, a two-step medium procedure was premeditated using different first and second media. Existing somatic embryos of the Euvitis cultivars, Thompson Seedless and Sauvignon Blanc, plus the Muscadina cultivars, Alachua and Fry, were cultured for a three week period onto three media types, DM, DM7 and DM14, then examined for callus. After the first three week culture period on DM, DM7 or DM14 medium, Euvitis cultivars were placed on X6 and Muscadina cultivars were placed on DMX. Prior to their transfer to DMX and X6, calluses had begun to emerge. Once calluses were transferred to the second medium, more somatic embryos were produced by Muscadinia cultivars, on DMX medium than Euvitis on X6 medium. Results from this work will be used to quantify cultivar response and determine efficacy of somatic hybridization and recombinant DNA techniques to improve production of secondary SE and ultimately improve genetic traits of grape for commercial production.