Production of plants using somatic embryogenesis

A process for propagating Theobroma cacao L., the process comprising:

• (a-1) obtaining primary somatic embryos from Theobroma cacao L. explant material, by
• (i) placing the explant material into a first induction medium with exposure to light for a period sufficient to obtain induced primary embryos;
• and
• (ii) transferring the induced primary embryos into a first development medium and culturing the induced primary embryos with exposure to light for a period sufficient to produce primary somatic embryos by direct somatic embryogenesis;
• (b-1) obtaining secondary somatic embryos from tissue of the primary somatic embryos, by
• (i) placing the tissue of the primary somatic embryos into a second induction medium with exposure to light for a period sufficient to obtain induced secondary embryos,
• wherein the second induction medium in step (b-1)(i) comprises 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and sucrose, wherein:
• the BAP in the second induction medium is present in an amount from about 0.5 mg/L to about 1.5 mg/L, and
• the sucrose in the second induction medium is present in an amount from about 20 g/L to about 80 g/L;
• and
• (ii) transferring the induced secondary embryos into a second development medium and culturing the induced secondary embryos with exposure to light for a period sufficient to produce secondary somatic embryos by direct somatic embryogenesis,
• wherein the second development medium comprises gibberellic acid and sucrose, wherein:
• the gibberellic acid in the second development medium is present in an amount from about 0.2 mg/L to about 0.8 mg/L;
• and
• the sucrose in the second development medium is present in an amount from about 20 g/L to about 80 g/L;
• and
• (c) transferring the secondary somatic embryos from step (b-1) to a maturation medium to cause maturation of the secondary somatic embryos.