EFFECT OF AMINO-ACIDS, GROWTH-REGULATORS AND GENOTYPE ON ANDROGENESISIN BARLEY

The effects of an amino acid mixture and of plant growth regulators ad ded to the FHG barley anther culture medium were examined using three barley cultivars (Cadette, Leger, and Igri) grown in two environments (growth cabinet and glasshouse). 'Leger' and 'Igri' were known as resp onsive, and 'Cadette' as recalcitrant to androgenesis. Our first exper iment showed that the amino acid-supplemented medium was best for embr yogenesis and regeneration of 'Cadette' and 'Igri' in both environment s, and if 'Leger' in the growth cabinet. The addition of ABA and TDZ d id not improve embryogenesis and plant regeneration, and PAA decreased them in the growth cabinet. The addition of the amino acid mixture in the FHG medium also reduced the percentage of albino plants in the gr owth cabinet, but growth regulators did not improve the percentage of albino plants, and in some cases increased it. In the growth cabinet, disregarding media, 'Leger' produced more embryos than 'Cadette' and ' Igri', and Leger' and 'Igri' produced more green plants than 'Cadette' . Percentages of albino plants were higher or 'Cadette' than for 'Igri ' or 'Leger'. In a second experiment, we compared seven hybrids with t heir parents for androgenic responsiveness. Hybrids had a higher abili ty to generate green plants than expected based upon the weighted aver age reflecting the contribution of each parent.