Direct Generation of Wheat Haploids via Anther Culture¹

Abstract

Haploids of wheat [ Triticum aestivum L.) provide useful materials for obtaining doubled haploids, homozygous lines, and for in vitro mutation research. Wheat haploids generated via anther culture are usually produced by a two‐step procedure: callus induction and plantlet development. To save time, material, and space, we have developed a one‐step procedure by which haploid plantlets are generated from plated anthers without transferring the calluses to a regeneration medium. Regeneration frequency (percent anthers producing plants) with the one‐step procedure varied from 0% for ‘Olaf’ and ‘Waldron’ to 7.31% for ‘Chris’. Two media formulations, both of which contained α‐Naphthaleneacetic acid instead of 2,4‐Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, produced haploid seedlings directly without transferring calluses to another medium. The plantlets developed by the one‐step procedure appeared about 3 weeks after they were placed on the medium. Albinos and plantlets possessing high polyploid chromosome numbers occasionally appeared among regenerates.