In vitro expression of genes affecting whole plant phenotype ? the effect of Rht/Gai alleles on the callus culture response of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em. Thell)

Abstract

Calli were initiated from immature embryos of 12 lines of hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em. Thell). The lines were from 3 varieties — April Bearded, Bersee and Maris Huntsman — isogenic for the reduced height/gibberellic acid insensitivity (Rht) genes — Rht1, Rht2 and Rht3 — and the ‘tall’ (rht) allele. The dwarfing genes had significant effects on the growth and morphogenesis of calli. The genes interacted with the 2,4-D in the medium and the varietal background. Calli of each line were cultured in the presence and absence of 1 mg/l of gibberellic acid (GA), but there was no interaction of the Rht genes with GA in vitro. The effect of the Rht genes is discussed in relation to their effects on cellular hormone metabolism and their involvement in previously described chromosome 4B effects in culture.