TY - JOUR AU - Florez, Sergio L. AU - Erwin, Rachel L. AU - Maximova, Siela N. AU - Guiltinan, Mark J. AU - Curtis, Wayne R. PY - 2015 DA - 2015/05/16 TI - Enhanced somatic embryogenesis in Theobroma cacao using the homologous BABY BOOM transcription factor JO - BMC Plant Biology SP - 121 VL - 15 IS - 1 AB - Theobroma cacao, the chocolate tree, is an important economic crop in East Africa, South East Asia, and South and Central America. Propagation of elite varieties has been achieved through somatic embryogenesis (SE) but low efficiencies and genotype dependence still presents a significant limitation for its propagation at commercial scales. Manipulation of transcription factors has been used to enhance the formation of SEs in several other plant species. This work describes the use of the transcription factor Baby Boom (BBM) to promote the transition of somatic cacao cells from the vegetative to embryonic state. SN - 1471-2229 UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-015-0479-4 DO - 10.1186/s12870-015-0479-4 ID - Florez2015 ER -