In Vitro Germination and Growth of Rubus Seeds and Embryos

Freshly harvested seeds of 10 Rubus crosses were germinated in vitro on modified Lepoivre medium without growth regulators. Among several seed preparation treatments, the best germination and subsequent survival in soil was achieved with halved seeds. In vitro germination bypassed the need for cool moist stratification and resulted in 57% to 81% germination within 8 to 12 days. This system provides an alternative method to secure high germination when a breeder is working with limited seed number, as in some interspecific Rubus crosses.