Embryo Rescue in Horticultural Crops

Embryo rescue is an in vitro technique that has been used to save the hybrid products of fertilization when they might otherwise degenerate. Embryo culture applied to practical problems is a tissue culture technique that has proven to be of greatest value to breeders. One of the main uses of this technique is to produce interspecific and intergeneric hybrids. Post-zygotic barriers such as endosperm abortion and embryo degeneration leading to low fertility have been overcome through the use of embryo culture and several hybrids have been developed in horticultural crops. The success of this technique depends on isolating the embryo without injury, formulating a suitable nutrient medium, and inducing continued embryogenic growth and seedling formation. Culture of embryos has been demonstrated in rose, orchids, alstroemeria, lilium, apricot, papaya, citrus, grapes, apple, capsicum, tomato, muskmelon etc.