Response of some Tunisian bread wheat varieties (Triticum aestivum L.) to anther culture system

Abstract

This study focusedon wheat haploid production by anther culture. The main purpose wasto compare the in vitro androgenesis response often wheat Tunisian bread wheat varieties on two different induction media. The anthers were introduced in vitro when microspores were in the middle uninucleate stage and obtainedfrom treated spikes at 4° C for two weeks. The culture media 190-2 and BAC3 were used. Plants regenerated from induced embryos and calli were grown on the 190-2 medium without any growth regulators. The response to anther culture was different between the studied varieties. Androgenesis induction was better on the 190-2 medium than on BAC3 medium. In addition, the development of calli and the regeneration of embryos were better on 190-2 medium than on BAC3. Both green plantlets and albina were regenerated from induced embryos on the 190-2 medium, while no green plant regenerated from the embryos growingon BAC3 medium. Four varieties over ten studied gave good number of green plants. These results indicatedthat 190-2 medium was most favorable for the in vitro androgenesis of the Tunisian bread wheat varieties.