Histology of somatic embryogenesis in mature tissues of olive (Olea europea L.)

This anatomical investigation on olive secondary somatic embryos describes several aspects of embryo development including proembryoid origin and growth, aspects of tissue differentiation, localization of somatic embryogenesis, and starch occurrence. The failure of a number of secondary somatic embryos to develop into perfect structures is to be ascribed to defects in the last growth stages (fused embryos, fused cotyledons) and/or to tissue degeneration processes affecting both imperfect and apparently perfect somatic embryos.