Pharmaceutical Capsules as a Coating System for Artificial Seeds

We have signifcantly improved the use of pharmaceutical type capsules as a coating system for the production of synthetic seeds. The capsule body was covered on its inner surface by a watertight film, composed of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvhiyl acetate (PVA) and bentone as a thickener, to control the nutrient supply and the subsequent development of somatic embryos. Choice of material used for the film was governed by viscosity constraints and the need to avoid nutrient permeability. The germination medium and the embryo were then placed within this improved capsule. We verified that carrot somatic embryos were able to sustain conversion rates of 90% in such coatings. In a final step the capsule body is sealed to assure the embryo protection. Congealed oils were the only sealing material which produced similar rates of germination, conversion and leaf emergence relative to controls.