PRODUCTION OF WHEAT HAPLOIDS THROUGH EMBRYO RESCUE FROM WHEAT X MAIZECROSSES

Appropriate hormone treatment using 2,4-D and gibberellic acid led to a high frequency (34.17%) of embryo formation in crosses of field-grow n wheat strains with maize. Twenty-five days after culture on MS mediu m supplemented with casein (2000 mg/l) and amino acids, 30.95% of the embryos showed plant formation, 44.05% resulted in callus-like structu res and the remaining failed to respond. The haploid nature of some of the regenerated plants was confirmed cytologically. Implications for wheat breeding are discussed.