Germination of embryos from stratified and non-stratified seeds and growth of apple seedlings (Malus domestica Borkh cv. "Antonówka")

Abstract

The germination of whole seeds, the seeds without coat and isolated embryos of apple cv. "Antonówka Zwykła" after 90 days of cold-stratification was compared with the germination of embryos isolated from non-stratified seeds. They were germinated under 16hrs during a day at temperature 25°C and 20°C during the night. It has been found that after 2 weeks whole stratified seeds germinated in 5 per cent, seeds without coat in 25 per cent and isolated embryos in 98 per cent. Isolated embryos from nun-stratified seeds, after 2 weeks, germinated in the range from 75 to 88 per cent. The results indicate the similar germination ability of embryos isolated from nun-stratified seeds. The seedling populations obtained from embryo's stratified and non-stratified seeds were fully comparable and they evaluated: 1) a wide range of individual differences within population, 2) a similar number of seedlings in each class of shoot length, 3) a similar morphological habitus in each class of shoot length, 4) a similar fresh leaf weight and whole plant increment.