Patent ID: 6946295

Claim:
A process of germinating gymnosperm somatic embryos, which comprises: (a) ex vitro sowing an unencapsulated gymnosperm somatic plant embryo on or within a non-sterile plant growth medium selected from the group consisting of peat, soil, rock wool, fiber of plant origin, polymer foam and a horticultural growth mix, (b) placing the medium containing the somatic embryo into a non-sterile environmentally-controlled plant-growing environment in which relative humidity may be controlled and manipulated, (c) maintaining said relative humidity in the range of 90 to 100% for at least two days from sowing to enable and facilitate germination of the somatic embryo, and (d) making a nutrient carbohydrate solution available to the embryo, and applying the nutrient solution by a method selected from the group consisting of fogging, misting and irrigation, at least during the period of somatic embryo germination such that somatic embryo imbibition, germination, growth and development occur.