Synthetic Seeds - In the conventional plant tissue culture for clonal propagation, storage and transportation of propagules for transplantation is a major problem.

To overcome this problem, in recent years the concept of synthetic or artificial seeds has become popular, where somatic embryos are encapsulated in a suitable matrix (e.g. sodium alginate), along with substances like mycorrhizae, insecticides, fungicides and herbicides.

In. India, this technique of synthetic seeds is being standardized and practiced for sandalwood and mulberry at BARC (Bombay) under the leadership of Dr. P.S. Rao.