Optimization of miracle fruit (Synsepalum dulcificum) seed germination and mutagenesis

One major limitation to the genetic improvement of miracle fruit is seed germination.Miracle fruit seeds are sensitive to post-harvest environmental conditions and require careful handling to maintain viability.Microbial antagonists, suboptimal storage temperatures, seed desiccation, and physical barriers to germination were hypothesized to play major roles in miracle fruit seed viability.Previous studies found germination rates of 79% at 18°C after 15 days and 79-89% germination at 28-30°C after 27 days, but these studies were not replicated (Adansi and Holloway, 1975).A recent study found that prolonged seed storage past 7 days at ambient temperatures (25°C) decreased miracle fruit seed germination to 0% (Tchokponhoue et al., 2018).Other foundational work