It was investigated the effect of the growth stage of rescued embryos on plant obtention from crosses between seedless grape parents. Two methods for in vitro culture were compared. Method 1 (M1): seed traces were cultured 60 days in ER culture medium. Method 2 (M2): procedure of M1 followed by additional 30 days in MS culture medium. The stage of embryo growth was established at the end of this period, when the embryos were rescued and transfered to WP culture medium. Four classes of embryo stages were indentified: globular, heart, torpedo and undefined. The globular stage, the most frequently found, produced the largest quantity of recovered plants, though it had the lowest capacity of originating plants. The torpedo stage was the most efficient in producing plants. M2 promoted the largest amount of germinated embryos and recovered plants. As the embryo growth stage affects the plant obtention, the rescue of embryos in an advanced growth stage promotes a higher capacity of producing plants. Therefore the use of techniques that favour the rescuing of embryos in an advanced growth stage can increase the obtention of plants.
stenospermocarpy; culture media; embryo rescue; Vitis sp.
