ABSTRACT
The vulnerability of cultivated crops to different environmentally stresses have increased immensely. Improvement of crops against these stresses lies in the introduction of natural variability through conventional and biotechnological interventions. Intervarietal and interspecific crosses, followed by selection resulted overall improvement in the quality and yield potential of different crops. The abortions of hybrid embryos at early stage of their development are the major limiting factor. Alternatively, embryo culture, sometimes called embryo rescue, is the method of choice to save the early abortion of hybrid embryos obtained through intervarietal and interspecific crosses. It involves isolating and growing of an immature or mature zygotic embryo under sterile conditions in nutrient medium to obtain a viable plant. The basic premise for this technique is that the integrity of the hybrid genome is retained in a developmentally arrested or an abortive embryo and that its potential to resume normal growth may be realized if supplied with the proper growth substances. In this present chapter a detailed discussion was made on the development of embryo culture, technique of embryo culture, factor affecting embryo culture, etc. At the end of this chapter endosperm culture technique has been discussed. Endosperm is a triploid tissue formed by fusion of one male and two female nuclei (double fertilization) and it is present in developing seeds of more than 80% of angiosperms. In vitro culture of endosperm enables regeneration of triploid plants, which are of considerable commercial importance in many species.
