EFFECT OF CULTIVAR, INCUBATION-TEMPERATURE, AND STAGE OF MICROSPORE DEVELOPMENT ON ANTHER CULTURE IN WHEAT AND TRITICALE

Effects of incubation temperature and developmental stage of microspores on polyhaploid production in three wheat cultivars 'Pavon 76', 'Kitt', and 'Chris' and one triticale cultivar, 'T81', were studied using a one-step medium. Calli failing to differentiate on the one-step medium were placed on a medium containing 1 mg/l indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and 2 mg/l 6-furfurylaminopurine (KIN). Anthers containing either early- or late-uninucleate microspores were incubated in dark at 26, 28 or 32-degrees-C for 3 days prior to transfer to 26-degrees-C. Averaged over temperatures and microspore stages, frequency of calli and green plantlets were 8.9 % and 3.4 %, respectively, for wheat cultivar 'Pavon 76', 8.4 % and 1.6 % for cultivar 'Kitt', 4.5 % and 0.25 % for cultivar 'Chris', and 2.9 % and 0.12 % for the triticale cultivar 'T81'. However, cultivar-by-developmental-stage interaction was significant for frequency of callus induction. Temperature had no significant effects on callus induction and plantlet regeneration. Anthers containing early-uninucleate microspores produced no polyhaploids.