Effect of cold treatment on precocious germination in somatic embryogenesis of wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Immature embryos are the best explants for induction of somatic embryogenesis. However, precocious germination of these explants is a difficult problem facing this technology in certain wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars. To overcome this problem, spikes were harvested at 10-14 days post-anthesis, sterilised, and stored under two different conditions (4°C for 4, 7, and 10 days and 8°C for 4, 7, and 10 days). Significant differences occurred in the germination response between treated and control samples, although no significant differences were observed in embryo-genie tissue induction between the samples. A lower rate of germination was observed in the spikes that were maintained at 4°C for 7 and 4 days.