Anther culture of Anthurium: a review

Abstract

The use of anther culture to produce haploid plants is a useful breeding technique for Anthurium, but has only seen limited applications thus far. This review describes the advances achieved thus far, and provides practical tips and protocols that would allow researchers new to the field, or already experienced Anthurium tissue culture scientists, to establish a new field of research, or a novel way to derive haploid plants for breeding programs. Anther culture can result in considerable somaclonal variation, but this has translated into a novel way of inducing new color variants of the spathe, the most marketable part of this ornamental plant. Considering this variability in vitro, anther culture is most likely not the most suitable method for clonal propagation of important germplasm, but is certainly a viable method to induce new genetically stable leaf and flower color variants.

Biotechnological advances in Vitex species, and future perspectives

“…Under natural conditions, flowering duration varies widely, at least in V. rotundifolia and V. agnus-castus [43]. Flowers that are induced in vitro are an ideal source of explants for the production of haploids since the chance of contamination is very low and since flower induction can take place independent of the season [95], [97]. In vitro flowering is also a useful strategy to investigate flowering physiology.…”

Genetic transformation and molecular research in Anthurium: progress and prospects

“…Therefore, the development of efficient tissue culture methods is crucial for each variety to be genetically transformed (Teixeira da Silva et al 2015a). The use of anther culture also holds great promise for the production of haploid plants and may serve as a valuable target tissue for genetic transformation studies (Teixeira da Silva et al 2015b). This review summarizes and evaluates the problems, challenges and progress achieved in developing molecular markers and in the genetic transformation of Anthurium following the first attempt to transform A. andraeanum by Kuehnle and Sugii (1991a).…”