PRODUCTION OF DOUBLED HAPLOIDS BY ANTHER CULTURE AND WHEAT X MAIZE METHOD IN A WHEAT BREEDING PROGRAM

Utilization of the doubled haploid method of breeding usually shortens the time to cultivar release, and methods of haploid production need evaluation in a breeding programme. Thirty-eight different three-way crosses were tested for anther culture response. On average 5.8 percent of the anthers cultured produced calli. Three crosses were found recalcitrant for callus induction. Overall, the anther culture method produced 0.6 plantlet per 100 anthers cultured. Five crosses with an average of 5.8 and 2.8 percent of anthers producing calli and plantlets, respectively, were compared using anther culture and wheat x maize crosses. Non-responsive genotypes for callus induction and plantlet formation in the anther culture method proved to be good parental material in wheat x maize crosses. The average percentages of embryo formation and plantlet production in wheat X maize crosses were 10.3 and 4.7, respectively. Anther-derived plants were cytologically unstable, whereas all the plants regenerated from wheat x maize crosses were haploids (n = 21 chromosomes). The chromosome numbers of the polyhaploids were doubled with a colchicine treatment. Improvement of the two haploid production methods to facilitate their efficient use in a breeding programme is discussed.