Embryological studies on hybridization between Theobroma cacao and Theobroma grandiflora

Abstract

In a comparative study of embryo development in intraspecific (U6 × K5/353) and interspecific (U6 × T33) crosses of Theobroma, the development of the embryo sac as described by previous authors was confirmed. Disintegration of synergids showed that the growth of the pollen through the style was slightly quicker in intraspecific than in interspecific crosses, but the number of embryo sacs which had received male nuclei 3 days after pollination was about the same. Although gametic fusion and endosperm formation in the intraspecific cross was in advance of those in interspecific cross, the major blockage in species hybridization occurred subsequent to fertilization, and in most instances, well after the proembryo stage. Abnormal cell division and cell differentiation were contributory factors to poor seed formation. Possible causes of the abnormality have been discussed.Autonomous enlargement and the binucleate appearance of the egg cells in the unpollinated flower suggested a tendency to parthenogenesis and diploidization of the egg cell, under special conditions. Although a large proportion of the cacao seeds observed in the species crosses are most probably intraspecific seedlings arising from contamination after controlled pollinations, the occurrence of a small number of true maternal seeds cannot be ruled out altogether.