Anther culture of maize (Zea mays L.) usually follows an indirect procedure involving callus induction and differentiation on at least two different media. Alternately, development of a direct procedure by which plantlets can be regenerated directly on one medium seems desirable, if acceptable frequency of plant regeneration can be obtained and an effective procedure of chromosome doubling of regenerates is available. We used Yupei (YP) and N6 basal media and 10 growth regulators (2, 4-D, kinetin, NAA, IAA, IBA, dicamba, pCPA, 6-BA, 2ip, and hypoxanthine) to test the feasibility of direct generation of haploid plantlets on six single-cross hybrids, 12 inbred lines, one teosinte (Zea mays ssp. Mexicana), and a hybrid between teosinte and maize. The results indicated that the direct generation of plantlets is feasible through anther culture, though it is genotype- and medium-dependent. Ten plantlets were generated directly from single cross hybrid K809 × A 619W and A2-1. The most effective medium was N6 basal medium plus 2, 4-D (2.0mgl-1) and kinetin (1.5mgl-1). Regeneration frequency (percent of anthers producing plantlets) ranged from 1 to 4%.