Root formation in deteriorated (aged) wheat embryos.

Inability of aged seeds to grow into successful plants in the field is primarily due to their age-associated loss of rooting ability. The present work describes an attempt to initiate roots in nonrooting aged embryos of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Data presented give a comparative study of root formation and seedling growth on different culture media. Such studies indicate that sucrose alone is enough to bring about root development in nonrooting aged embryos.