Carrot somatic embryos were encapsulated in alginate gel beads. To improve the quality of a "synthetic seed" coating, the theology and dehydration properties of different matrices were tested. By increasing alginate and CaCl2 concentrations, additional mineral elements were shown to increase resistance to rupture, and to depress the germination of somatic embryos. A polysaccharide addition was found to slow the alginate matrix dehydration; alginate-gellan gum and alginate-kaolin matrices could preserve the viability of somatic embryos at low relative humidities (30% to 35% germinations at 50% relative humidity) to a greater extent than other matrices.