FACTORS AFFECTING ANTHER CULTURABILITY OF RECALCITRANT BARLEY GENOTYPES

One major problem encountered with cereal anther culture is that some genotypes are low or non-responders to the technique. The objective of this study was to improve anther culture efficiency of recalcitrant b arley (Hordeum vulgare L.) genotypes. Reciprocal F1s between the two l ow responsive cultivars, Morex and Steptoe, were used. These were chos en because doubled haploids (DH) were required from these genotypes fo r the North American Barley Genome Mapping project. Ficoll 400 at 200 g l-1, in the induction medium significantly increased green plant pro duction compared to four other media formations containing different g elling/viscosity modifying agents. Cold pretreatment of donor spikes o f 28 vs 14 d resulted in an increase in embryoid, total plant and gree n plant production. Anther culture response in these experiments was l ittle influenced by donor plant growth conditions. Indole-3-acetic aci d (1 mg l-1) or 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (2 mg l-1) in the induction m edium did not affect anther culturability or plant regeneration. Based on this research, the negative genotypic effect for doubled haploid p roduction could be diminished, which is desirable for practical applic ation.