Abstract: The invention disclosed is a synthetic seed and a method for the manufacture thereof. The seed comprises a plant propagule which is capable of producing an entire plant, encapsulated in a material including an inert filler, a binder and water. The synthetic seed has a prescribed selected water-activity to maintain viability until exposed to germination permissive conditions, and is of sufficient mechanical strength/hardness for use with mechanical seeding devices.

Abstract: A process for the micropropagation of plant material. The process comprises excising a shoot tip having a length in the range 0.6 to 3 millimeters from a bud of the plant. The excised tip is placed in a first nutrient medium containing benzyl adenine to induce shoot elongation and the elongated shoot decapitated. The decapitated shoot is placed in a nutrient medium to stimulate lateral shoot induction and elongation. Shoots one centimeter or more are excised and the excised shoots are implanted in a rooting nutrient medium for root production.