ENZYME GENE MARKERS AS INDICATORS OF THE INITIAL PLOIDY IN ANTHER CULTURES OF TREES

Enzyme gene markers proved effective as indicators of the initial ploidy of in vitro material from anther cultures. The suggested methods were tested by using embryoids or calli of the tree species Aesculus hippocastanum L., Fagus sylvatica L., and Quercus petraea (Mattuschka) Liebl. Three categories of problems were considered: one identified donor tree, a no longer existing donor tree, and donor trees of uncertain identity. Only haploids (dihaploids) were identified in F. sylvatica, haploids and a few diploids were identified in Q. petraea, and frequently occurring diploids were identified in A. hippocastanum. The results demonstrate the need to determine the initial ploidy of plantlets derived from anther cultures. Limitations in the case of chimeric tissues are outlined briefly.