Adding glutamine and other amino acids to liquid medium during the histodifferentiation and maturation phase leads to larger embryos which reach physiological maturity in about 5 weeks, but which germinate more quickly and vigorously. The best combination to date appears to be 30 mM glutamine and 1 mM of methionine:
Effect of 0, 15, 30 60, and 120 mM of glutamine on embryo growth
References:
Schmidt, M.A., D.M. Tucker, E.B. Cahoon, and W.A. Parrott. 2005. Towards normalization of soybean somatic embryo maturation. Plant Cell Rep. 24:383-391.
- Use of methionine:
- Dyer DJ, Cotterman CD, Cotterman JC (1987) Comparison of in situ and in vitro regulation of soybean seed growth and development. Plant Physiol 84:298-303.
- Use of glutamine:
- Skokut TA, Varner JE, Schaefer J, Stejskal EO, McKay RA (1982) [15N] NMR determination of asparagine and glutamine nitrogen utilization for synthesis of storage protein in developing cotyledons of soybean in culture. Plant Physiol 69:308-313.