GENOTYPIC DIFFERENCES IN POLYEMBRYO FORMATION AND SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS INCREMENT IN WHEAT (TRITICUM-AESTIVUM L), FOLLOWING 2,4-D TREATMENT

In the course of experiments performed to obtain haploid wheat plants in which 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) was applied to develop ing spikes, it was found that three cultivars showed a different abili ty to produce polyembryos (Thatcher 20.19%, Chris 7.06%, Dollar 0%). T his behaviour was related to their capacity to form somatic embryos. D iploid immature embryos cultured in vitro after 2,4-D treatment, gave a higher frequency of embryogenic callus in Thatcher and Chris than in Dollar. As the common factor in both experiments was the 2,4-D treatm ent we propose that the three cultivars showed a differential sensitiv ity to 2,4-D.