The use of Embryo Culture with Transplanted Nurse Endosperm for the Production of Interspecific Hybrids in Pasture Legumes

Abstract

Immature interspecific hybrid embryos, dissected from seeds which fail to develop because of endosperm abortion, were enveloped in nurse endosperm dissected from normally developing ovules, cultured to the seedling stage on a sterile nutrient agar medium and transplanted to a sterilized potting mixture. The technique was applied successfully in the pasture legume genera Trifolium, Lotus and Ornithopus.