Methodological development for synthetic seeds production of 'Moraiolo'

The research was conducted with the aim to identify an efficient protocol for the synthetic seeds production in olive, cv Moraiolo. It was divided in two different experiments with the objective to individuate an efficient procedure of synthetic seeds preparation using vitro-derived uninodal explants (Exp #1) and to evaluate the effect of a short period storage (7 days) at 4°C on the encapsulated explants conversion (Exp. #2). The first experiment showed that the dipping of the synthetic seeds for 3 days in IBA and sucrose solution before sowing increased the rooting response. The second experiment showed the positive effect of the short period storage at low temperatures of the synthetic seeds, increasing the conversion level of the encapsulated microcuttings. Although preliminary, the results indicated interesting development to simplify the protocol for the synthetic seeds preparation in olive and the possible introduction of the encapsulation technology in the nursery activity.