ANTHER CULTURE AND ANDROGENETIC PLANT-REGENERATION IN BUCKWHEAT (FAGOPYRUM-ESCULENTUM MOENCH)

Anther culture for haploid induction of buckwheat was studied over a p eriod of five years. Approximately 24,000 anthers were isolated and cu ltured on different culture media. The regeneration capacity was gener ally very low. Data are presented for experiments that included 7278 a nthers on which 99 calluses were formed and 20 buds regenerations were noted. Regeneration occurred most readily on gellan-gum solidified me dia, with 90 g l(-1) maltose, 2.5 mg l(-1) BA, 0.5 mg l(-1) IAA, and p referably in darkness. Haploid cells, as established by chromosome cou nts, were observed in eight regenerants. Several abnormalities of poll en development in vitro were detected. Starch presence in pollen as a possible sign of androgenic capacity was studied. Microspores in uninu cleate and early binucleate stages contained only proplastids, while i n adult pollen grains a number of amyloplasts were present.