Cell and tissue culture as supplementary tool in plant breeding: Exemplified in potato, oilseed rape and barley

Abstract

Plant cell culture is applicable in range from the research laboratory to the practical breeding. Our results with potato and barley are outlined with regard to the rapid introduction of resistance to Phytophthora and viruses (PVX, PVY, PLRV, BaYMV.). In rapeseed, the prerequisites for an immediate application of haploids are becoming realized, whereas in rye the numbers of androgenetic green regenerants are still very limited. Besides haploidization, tissue culture approaches for early screening procedures are summarized. In potato, calluses and protoplasts are used in screening, e.g. for Phytophthora resistance; the work in barley concentrates on somatic cells and isolated microspores. Starting from immature embryos, suspension cultures were established and single cell suspensions achieved. Regeneration is also possible from isolated barley microspores after preconditioning of the media using ovaries. Under these conditions the regeneration rate was high enough to use this system for selection. Fusaric acid was applied as a selective agent and calli could be selected which survived 0.2 mM fusaric acid, a concentration toxic to unselected material.