Effects of cultivars, growth regulators, incubation temperatures, stages of microspore development, and antimitotic agents on anther culture of wheat and triticale

Production of haploid plantlets through anther culture, followed by chromosome doubling, provides plant breeders with a useful method for accelerating the development of desirable breeding lines. Haploid calli and cell suspensions derived from microspores also can be used for induced mutation studies with the advantage that mutations tend to be recessive and masked in polyploid plants. Among the conditions and variables used in an anther culture system, genotype, growth regulator, incubation temperature and stage of microspore development are important factors.; Among wheat cultivars tested in this study, Pavon 76 and Kitt were the most responsive to anther culture (produced more calli and double haploid plantlets). Triticale cultivars responded poorly. The medium containing 2,4-D produced the highest calli but required a regeneration medium, 87T1, for plantlet production. Incubation of anthers at 26-28{dollar}spcirc{dollar}C was a practical approach. The first mitotic division of the uninucleate microspore was observed 7 days after anthers were placed on 85D12 medium. The extensive division of the vegetative nucleus could be the source of embryoid or callus generation.; Chromosome doubling of microspore-derived calli and plantlets is a critical step in haploid breeding programs. Our results indicated that colchicine was the most effective compound for chromosome doubling and colchicine treatment of anther-derived calli is an effective method of obtaining a high frequency of double haploid plantlets through anther culture system.