Anther culture in Brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera)

Abstract

SUMMARYIn Brussels sprouts, yields of up to 357 embryos per 100 anthers cultured were obtained using a thermal shock treatment of 16 h at 35°C at the start of the culture period. Treatments of 48 h at 35°C and 14 days at 30°C gave no embryos. The F1 hybrid cv. Gower consistently gave higher embryo yields than the F1 hybrid cv. Nym, the differences being 3 to 10‐fold. Differences in embryo yield of 3‐fold or less were usually not statistically significant because of great variation within a treatment. This variation was less with donor plants raised in a growth room than with those raised in a glasshouse, where temperature and light intensity could not be so accurately controlled.From 842 embryos cultured, 270 plants were regenerated, mostly via hypocotyl explants, which developed from the anther‐derived embryos. Most of the regenerants were haploid or diploid, with a few of higher ploidy.