Acquisition of embryogenic competence during somatic embryogenesis

This review focuses on investigation in acquisition of embryogenic competence during somatic embryogenesis in the last five decades. In tissue culture, differentiated somatic cells acquire embryogenic competence and proliferate as embryogenic cells during the induction phase. These embryogenic cells are important because they differentiate to form somatic embryos at a later time. Various molecular and structural markers for detecting embryogenic cells or enhancing embryogenic competence are summarized and implications of the findings are discussed.