Eighteen seedless grape genotypes differing in ripening season (early, mid and late) and in seed trace size (small, medium and large) were harvested at 6, 10, 14, 18 and 22 weeks past bloom (wpb). Using embryo rescue techniques it was studied if embryo do abort as the fruit matures and what percent embryos remain viable at later stages. The size of seed trace was also investigated to determine its influence on embryo viability during maturation. It was found that genotype have great influence on embryo culture traits. Late maturing genotypes showed fewer rescued embryos, germinated embryos and transplantable plants than early and mid season ones. The best culture time for grape embryo rescue is 6 and 10 wpb. At these dates, the largest number of embryos, germinated embryos and transplantable plants were obtained. Genotypes with the largest ratio for seed trace weight/seed trace length (i.e., largest density) showed the greatest tendency to have the largest number of ovules with embryos, more germinated embryos and more transplantable plants. The study also showed that it is possible to recover plants from mature fruit harvested late, although at a much reduced rate.
seedless grapes; embryo rescue; genotypes; "in vitro" culture