Studies on the androgenesis in cultured anthers of Atropa belladonna L.

Abstract

Embryological investigations were carried out on developing anthers of <i>Atropa belladonna</i> grown in natural conditions and on anthers which produced androgenic embryos in the <i>in vitro</i> culture. The anatomy of developing anthers was analized in details. Meiotic abnormalities were not detected and 36 bivalents were present at metaphase of meiosis I. About 90% of pollen grains were normally developed. Anthers inoculated at the tetrad or microspore stage and cultured on Linsmaier and Skoog medium with kinetin 4 mg/1 and IAA - 2 mg/1 produced androgenic embryos. Differences in the development of septum, in the morphology of pollen grains, formation of tapetum, development of proembryos and the occurrence of storage materials were recorded. The origin of autopoliploid plants from haploid cells is discussed.