INITIATION OF MICROSPORE EMBRYOGENESIS BY STRESS

Microspores have the remarkable capacity to develop into haploid plant s via embryogenesis in vitro. Stress treatment acts as a trigger for i nducing this sporophytic pathway, preventing the development of fertil e pollen (gametophytic pathway). The doubled haploids generated are co mpletely homozygous, and represent an important tool for research in p lant genetics and breeding. In addition, microspore embryogenesis can be used to study plant embryogenesis and phase transitions during the alternation of generations in plants. Microspore culture also allows s tress to be analyzed in the novel context of cell cycle regulation and plant development.