Tree somatic embryogenesis in science and forestry

Somatic embryogenesis is the latest, and potentially the most efficient, method for the vegetative micropropagation of plants. Over the past three decades, numerous laboratory studies have investigated somatic embryogenesis of forest trees, yielding positive results for a number of economically important tree species. The first test trials were run and plantations were planted with interior spruce in the 90s by CellFor Inc. (Canada). However, at the beginning of the XXI century, the program to produce spruce and Douglas fir somatic seedlings was stopped for economic reasons. Thus, currently no operational program is ongoing except on a small scale in New Brunswick. In order to integrate somatic embryogenesis technology into operational reforestation programs, the production costs of forest tree somatic seedlings needs to be reduced, and the awareness of foresters and forest landowners that the material obtained through somatic embryogenesis is valuable needs to be increased. This awareness would enable implementation of this technology on a large scale for production and forest management throughout Europe including Poland. In this review, the importance of somatic embryogenesis in scientific research and in global and European forestry is presented. Our main aims are to provide basic information on the challenges in researching somatic embryogenesis of forest trees and to raise interest in this tree propagation technique in both scientists and foresters.