An In Vitro Method to Rescue Embryos of Horseradish, a Reputedly Sterile Plant

Horseradish has been reported to be frequently sterile and therefore difficult to improve by traditional sexual crosses. In this paper we report a simple method to perform embryo rescues on Murashige and Skoog medium without growth regulators. We then demonstrate the usefulness of the method by making crosses and self-pollinated seeds of several horseradish lines, rescuing the embryos in vitro, and growing the seedlings in soil in a greenhouse. Seedlings obtained in these experiments are being prepared for field plantings. We hope that this simple procedure will speed worldwide efforts to improve horseradish germplasm.