EFFECT OF OVARY COCULTIVATION AND CULTURE-MEDIUM ON EMBRYOGENESIS OF DIRECTLY ISOLATED MICROSPORES OF WHEAT

Culture of directly isolated microspores of wheat (Triticum aestivum L .) was studied in six defined liquid culture media differing in their nutrient composition. Microspores were isolated from spring wheat geno types 'Mahti' and 'Hja 24201' using microblender and cultured with or without wheat ovaries. Ovary co-cultivation was found to be necessary for the development of embryo-like structures from directly isolated m icrospores. With ovary co-cultivation, microspore-derived embryo-like structures developed in all the different induction media. The inducti on media showed some variation in inducing microspore embryogenesis. A s a total, 1113 embryo-like structures were plated on the regeneration medium and 95 green and 115 albino plants were obtained. Seventy-five of the green plants were either fertile or partially fertile and 20 w ere sterile. In contrast, in cultures without ovaries only some initia l cell divisions were observed, but the induced multicellular structur es did not develop beyond two weeks.