Extending holomorphic sections from complex subvarieties (Q5928272)

Let \(X\) be a Stein manifold and let \(Y\) be a complex manifold which admits a spray in the sense of \textit{M. Gromov} [J. Am. Math. Soc. 2, No. 4, 851-897 (1989; Zbl 0686.32012)]. We prove that for every closed complex subvariety \(X_0\) of \(X\) and for every continuous map \(f_0: X\to Y\) whose restriction to \(X_0\) is holomorphic there exists a homotopy of maps \(f_t:X\to Y\) \((0\leq t\leq 1)\) whose restrictions to \(X_0\) agree with \(f_0\) and such that the map \(f_1\) is holomorphic on \(X\). We obtain analogous results for sections of holomorphic submersions with sprays over Stein manifolds or Stein spaces. Our results extend those of \textit{H. Grauert} [Math. Ann. 133, 450-472 (1957; Zbl 0080.29202)] and \textit{O. Forster} and \textit{K. J. Ramspott} [Invent. Math. 2, 145-170 (1966; Zbl 0154.33401)].