IN-VITRO PRODUCTION AND PROPAGATION OF FRAGARIA-VESCA X POTENTILLA-FRUTICOSA HYBRIDS

Intergeneric Fragaria vesca x Potentilla fruticosa hybrids were produc ed using in vitro culture. Hybrid plants were not obtained by direct e mbryo rescue, but were regenerated from cotyledon-derived callus. Expe riments with F. vesca indicated that using cotyledon halves was not mo re productive than using entire cotyledons. A polarity was observed in cotyledons and in cotyledon halves, with callus and regenerated shoot s produced more frequently from proximal ends. Cotyledons from 17% of hybrid embryos produced callus and regenerated mature plants. The tech nique enabled rapid multiplication of some embryos, with the productio n of more than one hybrid plant. In some cases more than 100 shoots we re obtained from one embryo, demonstrating the potential usefulness of this technique for the production of intergeneric hybrids.