Investigation of media for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) immature embryo culture

Abstract

Immature embryos of F1 progeny resulting from taxonomically wide hybridizations require tissue culture using complex media to mature, grow and develop into normal and healthy plants. To gain insight as to how progeny of wide-crosses between wild and domestic Triticum species, 12 domestic varieties (Al-Eiz, Babel, Bedhaa, Entisar, Hadbaa, IPA 99, Latifia, Nour, Rabia, Sally, Sham 6, Tamoz 2) were used to determine the genotype response to culture media type. Immature embryos the aforementioned wheat varieties were screened on four media (Murashige and Skoog; MS full strength, ½ strength MS, Gamborg B-5; B-5 full strength, and ½ strength B-5) to determine performance when used as a female in a cross with wild species. The experiment used a completely randomized design with six replications. Traits recorded were final germinations percentage (FGP), shoot length (SL), root length (RL), and root number (RN). Results indicated significant variety x media interaction for all traits studied. Despite the interaction, in a practical sense, all varieties performed adequately on ½ B-5 and varieties Al-Eiz, Entisar, Hadbaa, and Latifia performed well on any of the four media. Tamoz 2 behaved recalcitrantly on all media tested. Data from this study indicated genetic variability among these wheat varieties caused substantial differences in response to each type of media.