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The aim was to develop an efficient chromosome doubling method for Miscanthus sinensis to enable the production of triploids and so avoid seed dispersal to the environment. Antimitotic treatments with colchicine or oryzalin were tested in M. sinensis cl. MS‐88‐110 on: (1) in vitro shoots and plants established in soil; (2) during propagation of embryogenic callus; and (c) during the initial stages of callus induction. All systems produced chromosome‐doubled plants. A higher percentage of tetraploids was found after antimitotic treatment at the explant or callus level compared with treatment of in vitro shoots or plants established in soil. In general, oryzalin was more toxic to plant material than colchicine. A higher frequency of chimeras was found among plants with altered ploidy level when the target was formed shoot buds compared with adventitious shoot formation from callus. Antimitotic treatment of embryogenic callus from shoot apices also resulted in a high degree of albinism.

The breeding companies and laboratories involved in this article cover a wide range of crops grown in the temperate climate zone: small grain cereals, oilseed crops, forage crops, turf, vegetables and potato. Speed and efficiency are becoming increasingly important in variety breeding and doubled haploids (DH) and genetic markers are important biotechnological tools to accelerate materials to market. Collaborative research between universities, research institutions and breeding companies has resulted in the routine use of DH technology and molecular markers in practical breeding of barley, wheat and rapeseed. DH populations have been established not only for barley, wheat and rapeseed, but for rye, oat and triticale, where DH technology is less developed.

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