IMPROVED EFFICIENCY IN APRICOT BREEDING - EFFECTS OF EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT AND NUTRIENT MEDIA ON IN-VITRO GERMINATION AND SEEDLING ESTABLISHMENT

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) embryos at three stages of development w ere cultured on C2d, SBH and WPM media. In vitro culture produced high percentages of germination and seedlings throughout all three develop mental stages. Significant media effects were noted for changes in bot h embryo length and weight during the culture period, as well as numbe r of plants produced. Embryos between 5 and 9 mm (developmental stage I) germinated and developed into plants in a significantly higher perc entage than in the other two more mature stages. Therefore, embryo cul ture can be successfully used as a tool in an apricot breeding program to obtain higher percentages of seedlings from planned hybridization or to overcome a lack of seed germination.