075 Effects of Temperature during Germination on the Germination and Survival of Embryo Cultured Peach Seed

Abstract

Embryo culture techniques are employed in early ripening peach and nectarine cultivars. Generally, the embryos in these varieties are not mature by the time the fruit matures, thus rendering normal stratification procedures ineffective. In 1998 and 1999, immature embryos from multiple peach genotypes were cultured in an embryo rescue media (WPM, 3% Sucrose) at 5 °C for 45 days in the dark. Embryos were then placed under lights at either a cool temperature (18 °C in 1999 and 20 °C in 1998) or a warm temperature (30 °C in 1999 and 28 °C in 1998) treatment with a photoperiod of 12 h for germination and initial growth. After 2 to 4 weeks embryos were rated for germination, root number, and top growth. The embryos incubated at the cool temperature regime not only had better germination, but also had a higher rate of greenhouse survival.