USING RADIOGRAPHY TO ATTEMPT TO SCREEN FOR HAPLOID EMBRYOS IN APPLE SEEDS

Obtaining apple haploid plants should offer new possibilities for genetic studies and breeding in this perennial species. Apple seeds were examined in search of an early screening for haploid embryos. Two varieties, Erovan and Golden Delicious, were studied by using X-ray radiography of mature seeds. Measures of length and width of integument and embryo and also length of radicle were performed. No relationship between the level of ploidy and the size of embryo was found. In addition, there was no morphological difference in embryos between seeds that germinated or did not germinate. Observations were also made on plantlets showing the pale green lethal factor (pglf). The morphology of seed cannot be used to predict the lethal phenotype.