Androgenic Stimulating Factors in the Anther and Isolated Pollen Grain Culture ofDatura innoxiaMill

Abstract

Flower buds, anthers, and/or pollen grains collected at the time of first haploid mitosis and 1–2 d before or after this division were submitted to different treatments before culturing anthers or isolated pollen grains. In the case of anther culture, the percentages of androgenic anthem were noted at the end of 2, 3, 4, and 5 weeks of culture. Statistical studies of the results thus obtained showed that some factors were highly effective in favouring androgenesis. The best results were obtained 1–2 d after the first haploid mitosis with anther's centrifuged at 40 g for 5 min after cold treatment of the flower buds (48 h at 3 °C); these treatments increased the percentage of androgenic pollen grains 12-fold. In case of isolated pollen grains, a system of culture particularly favourable for induction and development of androgenic embryos was found. This system included a cold treatment of the flower buds (48 h at 3 °C), the centrifugation of the isolated pollen grains (120 g for 15 min), and culturing them for 20 d in the dark and then in continuous light.