Enhanced seed development in the interspecific cross Allium cepa x A. sphaerocephalon through ovary culture

Allium sphaerocephalon pollen tubes grew into styles and penetrated micropyles of Allium cepa, but ovules started to degenerate about 16 days after pollination and no seeds developed. Seeds developed in vitro in ovaries excised from flowers 4 and 7 days after pollination. Seven weeks after culture initiation, seeds had grown in 4 of 96 excised ovaries, cultured on BDS medium supplemented with GA3. Although the culture medium supported seed maturation within excised ovaries of self-pollinated A. cepa flowers, no viable hybrid seeds were recovered from crosses with A. sphaerocephalon. Extended post-fertilization barriers may have restrained development of hybrid embryos in vitro. Ovary culture followed by in ovulo embryo rescue may be feasible for distant-species hybridization in Allium.