Anther Culture
Anther Culture
Anter culture is the process of using anthers to culture haploid plantlets.
The technique was discovered in 1964 by Guha and Maheshwari. This
technique can be used in over 200 species, including tomato, rice,
tobacco, barley, and geranium. Some of the advantages which make
this a valuable method for obtaining haploid plants are:
- the technique is fairly simple
- it is easy to induce cell division in the immature pollen cells in some species
- a large proportion of the anthers used in culture respond (induction frequency is high)
- haploids can be produced in large numbers very quickly.
In experiments using Datura innoxia, induction frequencies of
almost 100% and a yield of more than one thousand plantlets or
calluses have occurred under optimal conditions from one anther.
Success can be determined within 24 hours as cells begin to divide.
Some disadvantages of using anther culture to obtain haploids are:
- when working with some species, the majority of plants produced have been non-haploid
- in cereals, very few green plants are obtained; many of the plants are albinos or green-albino chimeras
- it is tedious to remove the anthers without causing damage
- sometimes a particular orientation is necessary to acheive a desired responce
click to learn more about:
Identification of naturally occuring haploids
click to see a diagram showing the stages of development from an anther to a haploid plantlet using anther and pollen culture
