In vitro culture of wheat. III. Anther culture of the a genome aneuploids in common wheat

Abstract

Callus induction was examined using the anthers of Triticum aestivum cv. Chinese Spring and its aneuploids for the A genome chromosomes (ditelo-1A(L), -2A(S), -3A(α), -4A(α), -5A(L), -6A(α), -7A(S), nulli-1A, -2A, -4A and mono-4A) to determine the genetic role of individual chromosomes or chromosome arms in callus formation. An attempt was also made to establish the best culture conditions for callus formation from the anthers of the same wheat.Results showed that: (1) Callus was mostly induced from the anther filament. The frequency varied with the strain: ditelo-4A(α) showed the highest frequency (41.3 %), followed by nulli-4A (16.9%), in contrast to low frequencies for the normal strain and the other aneuploid strains. Undoubtedly, some genetic factor(s) for inhibiting callus induction is located on the β arm of chromosome 4A. (2) 2,4-D was needed to induce callus, but IAA and kinetin had no effect. 3 % sucrose was more favourable than 6 % for callus formation. Anthers cultured at the middle-uninucleate stage produced calluses more easily than those cultured at the other uninucleate stages (early or late). (3) A callus originating from the pollen of nulli-2A was obtained. From this, many albinotic plantlets were produced on a medium containing no 2,4-D.