Using putative anti-auxins to improve somatic embryo maturation of Abies nordmanniana

In Belgium, the culture of Nordmann fir (Abies nordmanniana) is mainly located in Wallonia region. The planted area is estimated in average at 5000 ha  that annualy produce some 4 million Christmas trees destined in priority to the export market. In vitro propagation by somatic embryogenesis is considered as an alternative method to seedlings for producing homogeneous and orthotropic trees on a large scale. Currently, the performances of the somatic embryo (SE) maturation is still insufficient to consider any commercial application of the technology. In this way , the effect of three substances  (2,3,5-triiodobenzoïque acid  as TIBA, 2 - (p-chlorophenoxy)-2-methylpropionic acids as PCIB, p-hydroxbenzoïque as PHBA)  reported as ''anti-auxins'' have been tested with three embryogenic lines on the formation and maturation of normal somatic embryos.