A COST-BASED INDEX OF ANTHER CULTURE RESPONSE IN DIVERSE WHEAT-BREEDING GERMPLASM

Anther culture response in a diverse range of Australian wheat-breedin g genotypes was tested and expressed as a 'culturability index' based on the actual costs of the various laboratory procedures. When the del ay from harvest to plating was up to 12 h, the use of low dose gamma i rradiation did not increase the anther culture response in this array of genotypes. This is in contrast to previous findings for which spike harvesting, irradiation, and plating was completed within 3 h and the irradiation treatment increased the anther culture response. Internal contamination of immature spike explants with Fusarium poae caused si gnificant loss of cultures and may be a persistent problem for cereal anther culture. For the genotypes producing green regenerants, costs r anged from $A1.40 to $85/green regenerant.