High frequency of plant regeneration from anther culture in flax, Linum usitatissimum L.

Abstract

AbstractThe effects of induction medium compositions on flax anther culture were investigated in order to improve the efficiency of callus induction and plant regeneration. Anthers were inoculated onto the modified MS medium supplemented with five different combinations of plant growth regulators. The medium containing the combination of 2mg/l 2,4‐ dichlorophenoxy‐acetic acid (2,4‐D) and 1 mg/1 6‐benzylaminopurine (BAP) produced a significantly higher number of calli forming shoots/100 responded anthers and a significant increase in overall efficiency of regeneration than the same basal medium containing 1 mg/1 a‐naphthalene‐acetic acid (NAA) and 2 mg/1 BAP (CK). Among the five levels of thiamin hydrochloride tested, the modified MS medium containing 10 mg/1 thiamin hydrochloride significantly increased the number of calli forming shoots/100 responded anthers and the overall efficiency of regeneration compared with the same basal medium containing 0.1 mg/1 thiamin hydrochloride. Maltose concentration had a significant effect on the percentage of anthers producing call, the number of calli forming shoots/100 responded anthers and the overall efficiency of regeneration. The medium containing 6% or 9% maltose produced the highest overall efficiency of regeneration among the five levels of maltose evaluated. Sucrose concentration significantly affected the number of calli forming shoots/100 responded anthers and the overall efficiency of regeneration, and dramatically affected the frequency of microspore‐derived plants and the frequency of spontaneous chromosome doubling in microspore‐derived plants. The efficiency of doubled haploid line production obtained in this study appears adequate for applied breeding programmes.