Desiccation tolerance of celery (Apium graveolens L.) somatic embryos was increased by supplementation of embryo-production medium with 1-mu-M abscisic acid (ABA) or 1 mM proline, with highest survival obtained with a combination of 1-mu-M ABA and 1 mM proline. Addition of ABA and proline increased fatty acid accumulation by somatic embryos; the effect on fatty acid compostion was inconsistent. Somatic embryos capable of germination differed from mature zygotic embryos by greater size, lower fatty acid level, and substantially lower proportion of oleic acid (18:1) as compared to linoleic acid (18:2).