ABSTRACT
Anther culture methods and androgenic capacity of Chilean wheat germplasm

Nicole Hewstone O.1, Carlos Muñoz S.1 y René Cortázar S.1
 

In order to determine the androgenic capacity of 19 wheat genotypes and to establish the best methodology for haploid production, three different treatment and five nutrient media were evaluated. A cold treatment was applied, either to the spikes, previous to anther extraction, or to the anthers in culture, using 4°C, for 4 to 7 days. A 0.8 M Manitol solution was used, to submit the anthers to high osmotic pressure. Cultured anthers were kept under a permanent irradiance of 50 μE m-2/seg, for 16 hr, or in darkness for 10 days, previous to incubation at 25 ± 4°C.
The cold treatment to the spikes, apparently was the best for callus induction; however, the use of Manitol, with no cold treatment, produced the largest number of plantlets. There was no significant difference between Iight or dark incubation; but on a percent basis, dark incubation was better for callus induction and plantlet formation. Also, dark incubation significantly reduced the ocurrence of albino plants.
N6, followed by Potato-2, were the best culture media. Genotypes differed in their androgenic ability, 'Onda-INIA' and '29 DH' beingthe two cultivars producing more plantlets. 'F.78208-1', 'Chris', 'Lanco-INIA', and 'Centurk' showed intermediate capacity for callus production, and the first three cultivars also showed intermediate capacity for plantlet formation.
From 37,457 cultured anthers, only 63 plants were obtained, 20 of which were albinos. This low production rate may limit the use of this technique; nevertheless, in the best treatments and genotypes, the rate of plantlet production/anther was over 13%.

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1 Estación Experimental La PlatIna (INIA), Casilla 439, Correo 3, Santiago, Chile.