ANTHER/POLLEN CULTURE

A. Anther culture: culturing of anthers containing microspores or immature pollen grains on a nutrient medium for the purpose of generating haploid plantlets.

B. Pollen culture: culturing of microspores or pollen grains.

Basic steps

a) Preparing explant

b) Surface sterilization

c) Several washes with disinfected water

d) Culture establishment

e) Culture

f) Plantlet production (haploid)

g) Transfer to sterile soil

h) Transfer to non-sterile soil

Factors affecting anther culture

• Genotype of donor plants
• Anther wall factors
• Culture medium: varies of species, genotype, age of donor plants and anthers and condition under which the donor plants are grown.
• Stage of microspore or pollen development
• Effects of temperature and light.
• Physiological status of donor plants (Phototropism status, seasonal changes, age of donor, treatment of plants)

APPLICATION

• Development of pure homozygous lines
• Hybrid development
• Induction of genetic variability
• Generation of exclusive male plants
• Hybrid sorting
• Disease resistance
• Insect resistance
• Salt tolerance