Hybridization in the genus Lens by means of embryo culture.

The cultivated lentil L. culinaris and the wild lentil L. ervoides are reproductively isolated from one another due to their hybrid embryo breakdowns. Using embryo culture, vegetatively normal hybrids were obtained. One specific hybrid, heterozygous for a reciprocal translocation, had about 50% gamete viability and produced aborted and viable embryos in a 1∶1 ratio. In the F2, vegetatively normal and highly fertile plants were selected. With the aid of embryo culture techniques, L. ervoides can be included in the wild gene pool of the cultivated lentil.