The germination of immature seed for reducing generation time in breeding programmes of winter cauliflower (Brassica oleraceaL. var.botrytis).

SummaryExperiments were conducted to investigate the possibility of reducing the generation time of biennial cauliflower in a breeding programme. Seeds at several stages of maturity, collected from plants grown at three temperatures after pollination, were germinated at 15°C, 20°C or 25°C. Observations were made on percent germination, mean time to germination and percent seedlings with roots. Good germination with minimum time from pollination to germination was obtained from seed developed at 20°C, harvested 42 days after pollination when dark green or brown and germinated at 25°C. The savings in time that such manipulations might achieve are illustrated by reference to current breeding timescales.