Plant regeneration from the hybridization of Brassica juncea and B-napus through embryo culture

Crosses were made to produce interspecific hybrids between Brassica napus x B. juncea and their reciprocals with the aid of embryo culture techniques. A better response of hybrid embryo culture was obtained from two cross combinations of B. juncea x B. napus (Ames 24521 x Huyou 15 and Vittasso x Zheshuang 72) than from their reciprocals. Embryo culture was more effective in terms of plant regeneration when embryos were cultured in vitro at 15 days after pollination (DAP), while more calli were initiated when embryos were excised and cultured at 10 DAP. A better response was observed on the MS medium with 0.3 mg l(-1) naphthylacetic acid (NAA) + 1.5 mg l(-1) 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and with 0.3 mg l(-1) NAA + 2.0 mg l(-1) BAP. Callus formation and plant regeneration on these two media reached 55.43 and 26.65%, and 66.98 and 24.61%, respectively.