Study of drought response in wheat cultivars, stabilized wheat-wheatgrass lines and intergeneric wheat amphidiploids cultivated in vitro

Abstract

The response of various wheat cultivars, stabilized wheat-wheatgrass lines and intergeneric wheat amphidiploids to in vitro cultivation on nutrient media containing 5 % and 10 % polyethylene glycol 6000 MW (Sigma) was studied. Immature embryos from the wheat cultivars Bezostaya, Sadovo and Russalka, wheat-wheatgrass lines№ 31, №36 and №68 as well as the amphidiploids Triticum durum/Haynaldia villosa, T. durum/Thinopyrum elongatum and T. aestivum/Th. elongatum were cultivated on different nutrient media to initiate callus induction. About 81.90%–97.40% of the wheat cultivars and lines, and 55.70%–71.90% of the amphidiploids produced calli. The genotypes differed considerably in regeneration frequency (percentage of regenerants producing embryogenic calli) and propagation coefficient (regenerants per callus). Best rooting occurred on the control nutrient medium, without polyethylene glycol, significant differences between the genotypes being observed. Polyethylene glycol in the selective media largely suppressed rooting (lower percentage of well-rooted regenerants compared to the controls of all genotypes). The genotypes studied were found to be relatively tolerant to drought, wheat-wheatgrass line №31 and amphidiploid T. durum/H. villosa expressing the highest adaptability potential. Therefore, they can be efficiently involved in various wheat breeding programs in order to improve wheat drought resistance.