Seed germination of the Cereus peruvianus Mill. (Cactaceae) somaclones follows a relatively simple protocol

Seed germination of Cereus peruvianus Mill. (C. hildmannianus K. Schum.) somaclones is important to generate plants containing genetic diversity induced by in vitro regeneration The germination of somaclone seeds and seeds collected from plants of natural population were evaluated for their response to acid scarification, presoaking in water, incubation at low and high temperatures, and imbibition in gibberellic acid. The effect of pre-soaking seeds on germination performance when germinated in vitro, was positive for both seeds from wild and somaclone plants. High and low temperatures also benefited germination of seed from somaclones when germinated in gerboxes, but previous exposure to 100°C was not favourable to in vitro seeds germination. Seeds germinated best in gerboxes. Acid scarification was only effective when seeds from wild plants were germinated in gerboxes and the addition of GA₃ did not promote higher germination. In this study, the pre-treatment that successfully improved germination of seed from somaclones and wild plants of C. peruvianus was a 24 hour pre-soak in water.