TRANSIENT ELECTROPERMEABILIZATION OF BARLEY (HORDEUM-VULGARE L) MICROSPORES TO PROPIDIUM IODIDE

Microspores of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivar 'Igri' were isolated in the late uninuclear stage and the viability of the microspore samples was improved threefold through Percoll gradient centrifugation. The fraction on top of 20% Percoll contained 70% viable grains. These grains were electroporated in the presence or absence of propidium iodide. Five to 17% of the grains became transiently permeabilized to propidium iodide, the percentage depending on the electroporetic conditions. Optimal electric conditions were five pulses of 100-400 μs at 120 V/mm. Microspore samples subjected to electroporation were able to develop microcalli/proembryos and subsequently plants. © 1990 Kluwer Academic Publishers.