Embryo rescue: A tool to overcome incompatible interspecific hybridization in <i style="">Gossypium</i> Linn.-<b style=""></b>A review

Abstract

Successful introgression of desirable characters from certain species could not be achieved because of different incompatibility reasons. Such incompatibility can be overcome by ovulo-embryo culture. From the literature reviewed so far, it appears that the technique involving excision of 10 to 15-day-old (after pollination) embryos and their subsequent culture on different combinations of BT and MS media was successful in obtaining difficult interspecific hybrids in <i style="">Gossypium </i>spp. BT and MS media supplemented with phytohormones, casein hydrolysate and IAA were more effective for culturing interspecific hybrid embryos. Other factors, like age and genotype of embryo; basal media, temperature and photoperiod during culturing; and hardening of plants are also important in determining the success of the interspecific embryo culture in <i style="">Gossypium</i> spp.