the rapid progress made on somatic embryogenesis and its prospects for potential applications in improving woody plants prompted us to edit this book initially in three volumes, and now to add two more volumes. the editors were all convinced that such a treatise was needed and would be extremely useful to researchers and students. this volume 5 has been divided into four sections and contains 18 chapters. section a contains eleven chapters covering topics such as somatic embryogenesis in ocotea catharinensis, tilia spp., swiententia macrophylla, eucalyptus grandii and e. dunni, gnetum ula, araujia sericifera, aralia elata, hoheria angustifolia, robinia pseudoacacia, and indian tree legumes. section b contains three chapters dealing with somatic embryogenesis in selected fruit trees, including kiwi fruit (actinida sp.), avocado (persea americana), and prunus spp. section c comprises two chapters related to somatic embryogenesis in commercial plantation crops such as tea (camellia sinensis) and coffee. section d has two chapters on genetic transformation of conifers, and somatic embryos of fruit trees and grapevine. all the chapters have been peer-reviewed and revised accordingly to improve their quality.