In Ovulo Embryo Culture of Early-maturing Prunus

Abstract

Embryos of plum, peach, and nectarine (less than 1 mm long) enlarged during in ovulo embryo culture. Optimum culture conditions for Prunus embryo enlargement consisted of Stewart and Hsu support system and medium with 6% sucrose at 27°C. ‘Blackamber’ plum embryos subsequently cultured on a Smith et al. medium and stratified at 1° for 1 month produced plants. This provides an easy method to culture small embryos from very early-maturing Prunus genotypes, and allows their use in breeding programs for the improvement of early-maturing genotypes.