The effects of gibberellic acid, phenylethylamine, 2,4-D, and genotype on androgenesis in hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum).

The response of three hexaploid wheats to anther culture was tested on media containing gibberellic acid (GA3) or beta-phenylethylamine (PEA) in the presence or absence of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks with 3 replications per treatment. In each treatment approximately 1000 anthers were cultured. Genotype, BP-40 had the highest value for the number of embryoids per 100 anthers but almost all of the regenerated plants were albino. In contrast, genotype BP-19 produced the highest number of green regenerants. In two genotypes out of three studied an antagonistic effect between GA3 and 2,4-D for embryo yield was observed. Replacing 2,4-D by either gibberellic acid or beta-phenylethylamine in the medium decreased the number of embryoids and regenerated plantlets per 100 anthers. PEA increased the number of embryoids per 100 anthers in two genotypes. Basal medium supplemented with gibberellic acid increased the ratio of plant regeneration in comparison with the control basal medium in one out of three genotypes tested. Haploid plantlets were produced at a high frequency in induction medium supplemented with GA3 (with or without 2,4-D).