Impact of Explant Type, Duration and Initiation Time on the Co-Culture Effect in Isolated Microspore Culture of Wheat Triticum aestivum L)

Abstract

Summary The effect of co-culture explant type, duration and initiation time on the culture of blender-isolated microspores of the spring wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes and Hja 24201 was investigated. Microspore-derived embryo-like structures (ELS) were obtained only with co-culture. Wheat ovary, glume, floret and anther co-cultures produced ELS in both genotypes. Among the explant types, ELS formation and plant regeneration were highest with ovary co-culture. Five days of ab initio ovary co-culture were sufficient to induce embryogenesis, although prolonged co-culture durations resulted in improved ELS and plant production. Addition of ovaries to the culture medium 5 days after microspore isolation still produced ELS but addition after 10 days gave ELS only in . We conclude that the positive co-culture effect on wheat microspore embryogenesis was obtained with non-embryogenic glume explants, indicating that the effect was not ovary-specific and that for optimal efficiency the co-culture should be applied for at least 5 days, the first application taking place no later than 5 days after microspore culture initiation.