Isolation of reduced genotypes of Hieracium pilosella using anther culture

Abstract

Plants of reduced ploidy were derived from anther tissue of a pentaploid, apomictic biotype of Hieracium pilosella (mouse-ear hawkweed). Callusing was observed from both the somatic and generative tissue of the anther. Capitulum diameter was used as a correlative character to determine the best stage for harvesting the tissue. The highest degree of callusing coincided with the early uninucleate stage of microsporogenesis. Regenerants included tetraploids, triploids and two classes of aneuploids. Segregation for apomixis was observed among the tetraploid regenerants, an indication of the dominant inheritance of apomixis in this species.