A Simple Method for Extracting and Cleaning Seeds of Rhipsalidopsis and Schlumbergera (Cactaceae)

A simple, vacuum-filtration method was developed for extracting and cleaning seeds from the fleshy fruits of Rhipsalidopsis Britt. & Rose and Schlumbergera Lem. (Cactaceae). The method uses readily available equipment and supplies, and is suitable for extracting seed from small quantities of fruit, as is commonly the case in commercial breeding programs. Seeds are extracted onto disks of coarse-porosity filter paper and rinsed thoroughly to remove the fruit pulp and to reduce clumping. Seeds from one fruit can be extracted and cleaned in ≈30 s.