Morphological and molecular evidences for DNA introgression in haploid induction via a high oil inducer CAUHOI in maize

The phenomenon of maternal haploid induction in maize was first described many years ago, but the underlying mechanism is still unclear. In this study, the Stock-6-derived, haploid-inducing line CAUHOI with high kernel oil content (KOC), was used as the pollinator to produce maternal haploids from the maize hybrid ZD958 with low KOC. CAUHOI is homozygous for the dominant marker gene R1-nj. Haploids were identified by morphological and cytological investigations. The frequency of haploid induction from this cross was 2.21%. Unexpectedly, many haploid kernels had weakly pigmented purple color on the embryo, and some haploid kernels had high KOC. Simple sequence repeat (SSR) analysis showed that 43.18% of the haploids carried segments from CAUHOI, and a small proportion (average 1.84%) of the genome of CAUHOI was introgressed into haploids. Haploid kernels with high KOC had a higher frequency of segment introgression from CAUHOI (2.92%) than that in haploid kernels with low KOC (1.79%), showing that the marker gene R1-nj and high-oil genes from CAUHOI were expressed during the development of some haploid embryos, and confirmed that the DNA introgression from the inducer parent occurred during maternal haploid induction. Together, these results suggested that the chromosome elimination was probably responsible for haploid induction in maize, and late somatic elimination might occur. Several possible mechanisms underlying haploid formation are discussed. Liang Li and Xiaowei Xu contributed equally to this work.     

A complete set of maize individual chromosome additions to the oat genome

All 10 chromosomes of maize (Zea mays, 2n = 2x = 20) were recovered as single additions to the haploid complement of oat (Avena sativa, 2n = 6x = 42) among F(1) plants generated from crosses involving three different lines of maize to eight different lines of oat. In vitro rescue culture of more than 4,300 immature F(1) embryos resulted in a germination frequency of 11% with recovery of 379 F(1) plantlets (8.7%) of moderately vigorous growth. Some F(1) plants were sectored with distinct chromosome constitutions among tillers of the same plant and also between root and shoot cells. Meiotic restitution facilitated development of un-reduced gametes in the F(1). Self-pollination of these partially fertile F(1) plants resulted in disomic additions (2n = 6x + 2 = 44) for maize chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 9. Maize chromosome 8 was recovered as a monosomic addition (2n = 6x + 1 = 43). Monosomic additions for maize chromosomes 5 and 10 to a haploid complement of oat (n = 3x + 1 = 22) were recovered several times among the F(1) plants. Although partially fertile, these chromosome 5 and 10 addition plants have not yet transmitted the added maize chromosome to F(2) offspring. We discuss the development and general utility of this set of oat-maize addition lines as a novel tool for maize genomics and genetics.     

Phenotypic and cytological variation among plants derived from anther cultures ofLilium longiflorum

Summary Anther culture of the Easter Lily (Lilium longiflorum; 2n=2x=24) was attempted in order to evaluate its potential in generating haploids for the production of hybrid cultivars. The effects of genotype, temperature (low temperature treatment of buds and high temperature treatment of cultures), sucrose concentration and growth regulators were tested. The most important factors for callus induction were the genotype and the presence of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Pre-treatments at low or high temperature had no apparent effect, while high sucrose concentration was inhibitory. Callus was derived from 28 of the 108 genotypes tested and plants were regenerated. Phenotypic variations were observed among these regenerants. Somatic chromosome numbers were determined in 42 plants derived from 10 donor genotypes. Thirteen plants were diploid and 29 were mixoploid with chromosome numbers ranging from 11 to 26. Four of the mixoploid plants had a high proportion of cells with haploid chromosome numbers, particularly at early stages of development. Meiosis was examined in plants with flower buds. Most plants had 12 bivalents at Metaphase I, but also aneuploids were observed. Other irregularities included bridges and laggards at Anaphase I. The occurrence of high frequencies of haploid cells (up to 80%) in root tips suggests that some plants may be of gametic origin. Research was supported by the Easter Lily Research Foundation, the Ohio Floriculture Foundation, the Gloeckner Foundation and the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station (technical paper no. 8398).     

Plants from haploid tissue culture of Lavix decidua

Haploid embryogenic tissue was initiated on 1/2 LM medium supplemented with 500 mg/l glutamine, 1000 mg/l casein hydrolysate, 100 mg/l inositol, 30000 mg/l sucrose, and 0.1 mg/l 2,4-D. The embryoids matured to produce plantlets. One plant from one of the two lines survived. The chromosome complement of tissue cultures, of the needle bases from the source plant, and of the plant produced in vitro were established by squashes. DNA content was assessed by DNA microdensiometry. In vitro tissues were haploid (n = 12). The plant produced was mixoploid, with a predominance of diploid cells (2n = 24).     

Cytological studies on mixoploidy and embryonic development in mosaic silkworms induced by low temperature treatment

Mosaicism in silkworms is easily inducible by applying a cold shock to the hybrid eggs between two strains with different markers at the early developmental stage. When BF₁ eggs from the cross between a tetraploid female (which had been induced from the cross between a red egg and a white egg strain) and a male of the red egg strain were exposed to a cold shock, hexaploid eggs and two types of mosaic eggs were obtained: black-black (BB-) mosaic eggs, which possessed two kinds of black serosa cells with different-sized nuclei, and black-red (BR-) mosaic eggs. Cytological studies on the embryos from these mosaic eggs revealed that the BB-mosaic type was a 3n/6n mixoploid, while the BR-mosaic type was mixoploid with n/2n/3n, n/3n, or 2n/6n constitution. The hatchability of BB- and BR-mosaic eggs was considerably lower than that of either n/2n or 2n/4n mixoploid eggs obtained by a cold treatment of diploid eggs. Since abnormal development was observed at a high frequency in the embryos from BB- and BR-mosaic eggs at the blastokinesis stage, it is speculated that the coexistence of hexaploid or triploid cells may be a factor in the induction of such abnormality in early embryogenesis.     

Induction of Haploid Durum Wheat Plants Through Pollination of Maize Pollen

When tetraploid wheat (Triticum durum Desf. ) variety DR147 was crossed with maize (Zea mays L. ) variety suppersweet ss 7700, pollen readily germinated on the stigma and one or more pollen tubes reached the embryo sac in 83.4% of wheat florets. The frequency of fertilization and embryo formation was 44.5% and 42. 6% respectively. The hybrids were karyotypically unstable and the maize chromosomes were eliminated early in the development. Thus haploid wheat embryos were form. Although the double fertilization frequency of durum wheat X maize was high (32.7%) to form embryos and endosperms, yet the endosperms were highly abnormal. It was very difficult to produce viable mature seeds from the mother durum wheat plants. The survival of hybrid embryos produced by durum wheat X maize could be improved or prolonged by treatment with 100 ppm 2, 4-D (either by dipping inflorescences in solution or injecting 0.3 to 0.5 mL 2, 4-D solution into the uppermost internodes of the wheat stem). 9 to 13 days after pollination, caryopsis were excised from the pollinated spikes and surface sterilized for peeling of the embryos in different developing stages. The embryos were plated on MS solid medium containing 3% sucrose, 200 mg/L casein hydrolysate for embryo rescue. The experimental results revealed that the well developed embryos (larger than 0. 5 mm with scutellum structure) were easy to produce calli by callus induction or produce haploid wheat plants by embryo rescue, whereas the poorly developed embryos (globular, pear or torpedo-shaped embryos smaller than 0.3 mm) responsed very poorly. The germination frequencies of well and poorly developed embryos were 83.3 % and 12.5 %, respectively. Chromosome counts of root tip cells of the rescued plants proved their haploid nature (2n= 2x= 14).     

High frequncies of fertilization and embryo formation in hexaploid wheat x Tripsacum dactyloides crosses

The Hexaploid wheat variety Fukuho was crossed with Tripsacum dactyloides (2n=4x=72). The total fertilization frequencies for the egg cell, polar nuclei, and both, were 58.3%, 26.8% and 58.9% of the 168 ovaries examined. However, the fertilization frequency of single polar nuclei was much lower at only 0.6%. The total frequency of fertilization was higher than that in wheat x maize crosses. A total of 49 hexaploid wheat varieties, including Hope carrying the dominant genes Kr1 and Kr2, were crossed with T. dactyloides, and most gave embryos. The embryoformation frequencies ranged from 0.5% to 59.0%. A higher frequency of 32.0% embryo formation was obtained following pollination of the variety Hope. In comparison with embryo formation in wheat x maize crosses the difference of embryo-formation frequencies between the two crosses was significant. The results of high frequencies of fertilization and embryo formation in wheat x T. dactyloides crosses indicated that the Kr genes are as inactive in wheat x T. dactyloides, as they are in wheat x maize crosses, and also that the efficiency of fertilization and embryo formation is higher in wheat x T. dactyloides than in what x maize crosses. The potential of wheat x T. dactyloides crosses for wheat haploid production and wheat improvement is discussed.     

Fertilization and Uniparental Chromosome Elimination during Crosses with Maize Haploid Inducers

Producing maternal haploids via a male inducer can greatly accelerate maize (Zea mays) breeding process. However, the mechanism underlying haploid formation remains unclear. In this study, we constructed two inducer lines containing cytogenetic marker B chromosome or alien centromeric histone H3 variant-yellow fluorescent protein vector to investigate the mechanism. The two inducer lines as the pollinators were crossed with a hybrid ZhengDan958. B chromosomes were detected in F1 haploids at a low frequency, which was direct evidence to support the occurrence of selective chromosome elimination during haploid formation. We found that most of the inducer chromosomes were eliminated in haploid embryonic cells during the first week after pollination. The gradual elimination of chromosomes was also detected in the endosperm of defective kernels, although it occurred only in some endosperm cells as late as 15 d after pollination. We also performed a genome-wide identification of single nucleotide polymorphism markers in the inducers, noninducer inbred lines, and 42 derived haploids using a 50K single nucleotide polymorphism array. We found that an approximately 44-Mb heterozygous fragment from the male parent was detected in a single haploid, which further supported the occurrence of paternal introgression. Our results suggest that selective elimination of uniparental chromosomes leads to the formation of haploid and possible defective kernels in maize as well, which is accompanied with unusual paternal introgression in haploid cells.Doubled haploid (DH) technology is widely used in maize (Zea mays) breeding. Although the life cycle of most sexually reproducing plant species alternates between a diploid sporophytic phase and a highly reduced gametophytic haploid phase, it is possible to obtain haploid plants containing the same number of chromosomes in their somatic cells as do the normal gametes of the species (Dunwell, 2010). Haploids can be obtained by in vitro or in vivo approaches. Anther and microspore culture are the most commonly used in vitro approaches; however, many species and genotypes are recalcitrant to these processes (Forster et al., 2007). Interspecies cross, which is an in vivo approach, induces haploids via chromosome elimination (Forster et al., 2007). For example, the cross between Hordeum vulgare and Hordeum bulbosum produces haploids in barley (Kasha and Kao, 1970; Sanei et al., 2011); maize and pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) are used as pollinators to produce haploids in wheat (Triticum aestivum; Laurie and Bennett, 1988; Gernand et al., 2005). There are two approaches for in vivo haploid induction in maize. One is using an ig mutant to generate both maternal and paternal haploids (Kermicle, 1969; Evans, 2007), and the other is using Stock6-derived inducers to produce maternal haploids only. The application of Stock6-derived inducers has become the foundation for modern DH technology (Prigge and Melchinger, 2012; Xu et al., 2013). The haploid induction rate (HIR) of inducer line Stock6 is 1% to 2% (Coe, 1959), which is 10 to 20 times higher than the spontaneous HIR in maize. The haploid-inducing capacity of inducers can be improved by selection (Sarkar et al., 1972). New inducers with improved HIRs have been developed, such as WS14 (2%–5% induction rate; Lashermes et al., 1988), RWS (Röber et al., 2005), and CAU5 (Xu et al., 2013).The first haploid inducer line Stock6 was discovered 50 years ago, and DH technology based on in vivo induction of maternal haploids has been widely used in maize breeding (Geiger, 2009). The mechanism underlying haploid formation remains unclear. Two hypotheses have been proposed for the mechanism. The first hypothesis is that one of the two sperm cells fails to fuse with an egg cell, but instead triggers haploid embryogenesis. In the second hypothesis, the two sperm cells fuse with an egg cell and a central cell, and the chromosomes from the inducer degenerate and are eliminated stepwise in the primordial cells during subsequent cell divisions.Evidence supporting the first hypothesis was reported by Bylich and Chalyk (1996). They found that 6.3% of the pollen grains of the ZMS haploid inducer line have two sperms showing different morphology. Thus, they proposed that the morphological defects of one of the sperms interfere in the sperm’s function, causing single fertilization. Another abnormality of inducer lines was described by Chalyk et al. (2003). They found that the frequency of aneuploid microsporocytes is much higher in haploid inducers than that in normal maize.Wedzony et al. (2002) studied the ovaries of inducer line RWS during the first 20 d after self-pollination. They found that about 10% of the embryos contain micronuclei with various sizes in the cytoplasm of every cell of shoot primordium. Their result supports the second hypothesis, which is selective chromosome elimination. Moreover, Fischer (2004) speculated that maternal haploids might possess small fractions of inducer genome. Consistently, previous studies (Zhang et al., 2008; Li et al., 2009) demonstrated morphological and molecular evidence for paternal DNA introgression in haploids, indicating the mechanism of chromosome elimination.Robust evidence to support either hypothesis is still missing due to lack of cytogenetic makers to trace chromosomes from inducers. In this study, we used B chromosomes and centromeric histone H3 variant (CENH3)-yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) as cytogenetic markers to discover direct evidence supporting selective chromosome elimination in both embryo and endosperm during haploid formation. In addition, we performed a genome-wide identification of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers in inducers, noninducer inbred lines, and 42 haploids using a 50K SNP array and detected unusual DNA introgression from inducer lines during haploid formation.     

New insights into the genetics of in vivo induction of maternal haploids, the backbone of doubled haploid technology in maize

Haploids and doubled haploid (DH) inbred lines have become an invaluable tool for maize genetic research and hybrid breeding, but the genetic basis of in vivo induction of maternal haploids is still unknown. This is the first study reporting comparative quantitative trait locus (QTL) analyses of this trait in maize. We determined haploid induction rates (HIR) in testcrosses of a total of 1061 progenies of four segregating populations involving two temperate haploid inducers, UH400 (HIR = 8%) and CAUHOI (HIR = 2%), one temperate and two tropical inbreds with HIR = 0%, and up to three generations per population. Mean HIR of the populations ranged from 0.6 to 5.2% and strongly deviated from the midparent values. One QTL (qhir1) explaining up to p = 66% of the genetic variance was detected in bin 1.04 in the three populations involving a noninducer parent and the HIR-enhancing allele was contributed by UH400. Segregation ratios of loci in bin 1.04 were highly distorted against the UH400 allele in these three populations, suggesting that transmission failure of the inducer gamete and haploid induction ability are related phenomena. In the CAUHOI × UH400 population, seven QTL were identified on five chromosomes, with qhir8 on chromosome 9 having p > 20% in three generations of this cross. The large-effect QTL qhir1 and qhir8 will likely become fixed quickly during inducer development due to strong selection pressure applied for high HIR. Hence, marker-based pyramiding of small-effect and/or modifier QTL influencing qhir1 and qhir8 may help to further increase HIR in maize. We propose a conceptual genetic framework for inheritance of haploid induction ability, which is also applicable to other dichotomous traits requiring progeny testing, and discuss the implications of our results for haploid inducer development.     

Biochemical selection of immature,haploid embryos of Zea mays L.

Summary A method was devised for the biochemical selection of immature, haploid Zea mays embryos using Adh1 ^– and either the Stock 6 or indeterminate gametophyte (ig in W23) high haploid-inducing systems. Haploid (Adh1 ^–) embryos survived exposure to levels of allyl alcohol which killed diploid (Adh1 ⁺/Adh1 ^–) embryos. Of the total surviving embryos which were examined cytologically 15% (using ig) and 22% (using Stock 6) were haploid. In two experiments with Stock 6, 100% of the surviving embryos were haploid. To obtain maximum effectiveness of Stock 6 and ig, Adh1 ^– was transferred to stock 6 and W23 backgrounds. Immature, haploid embryos are being used to develop haploid, morphogenic tissue cultures of Zea mays.     

Production of haploid and doubled haploid plants of melon (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cucumis melo</Emphasis> L.) for use in breeding for multiple virus resistance

We have developed improved procedures for recovery of haploid and doubled haploid (DH) melon plants, using hybrids derived from crosses of lines with multiple virus resistance. Seeds formed after pollination with irradiated pollen were cultured in liquid medium for 10 days before excision of the embryos for further culture. This made it easier to identify the seeds containing parthenogenetic embryos, thereby reducing the effort required and increasing the percentage of plants recovered. The plants obtained (approximately 175) were transferred to a greenhouse for evaluation. Three fertile lines were identified, and selfed seeds were obtained for evaluating virus resistance. Flow cytometry of leaf tissues showed that two of these lines were spontaneous DH and the third was a mixoploid containing haploid and diploid cells. The other plants remained sterile through the flowering stage. Flow cytometry of 20 sterile plants showed that all were haploid. Attempts to induce chromosome doubling by applying colchicine to greenhouse-grown plants were unsuccessful. Shoot tips from the haploid plants were used to establish new in vitro cultures. In vitro treatment of 167 micropropagated haploid shoots with colchicine produced 10 diploid plants as well as 100 mixoploid plants. Pollen from male flowers that formed in vitro on the colchicine-treated plants was examined. High percentages of viable pollen that stained with acetocarmine were found not only in the diploids but also in >60% of the plants scored as mixoploid or haploid by flow cytometry. Efficient recovery of DH from hybrid melon lines carrying combinations of important horticultural traits will be a valuable tool for melon breeders.     

Heterofertilization exhibited by trifluralin-induced bicellular pollen on diploid and tetraploid maize crosses.

The heterofertilization rates and fertility of trifluralin-induced bicellular pollen were investigated in maize (Zea mays L.). A diploid inbred line, Oh43 (r1/r1), and a tetraploid line, Q28-1 (r1/r1/r1/r1), were pollinated with a trifluralin treated diploid stock heterozygous for R1-scm2. The gene R1-scm2 conditions purple pigmentation in both the embryo and the aleurone layer. Heterofertilized kernels were detected as discordant kernels, i.e., yellow kernel with purple embryo or purple kernel with white embryo. The diploid-diploid crosses treated with 0.2-0.3% Trefanocide solution (0.09-0.13% trifluralin) resulted in incidences of discordant kernels (3.7-4.8%) that were significantly higher than the control (2.3%). Most of the seedlings (86%) of the discordant kernels in the 0.3% treatment were triploids or triploid-class aneuploids. In tetraploid-diploid crosses, trifluralin treatments increased the number of plump kernels on the tetraploid ears. In the 0.3% treatment, 5.2% of ovaries produced plump kernels on the ears and most of the seedlings (92%) were tetraploids or tetraploid-class aneuploids, whereas in the control, only 1.5% ovaries produced plump kernels and most of the seedlings (98%) were triploids or triploid-class aneuploids. A high rate of discordance was observed among the plump kernels both in the treated plots (36.1-48.0%) and in the control (33.3%). Consequently, almost all of the plump kernels from the tetraploid-diploid crosses were considered to be the results of heterofertilization.     

Two methods of haploidization in pear,Pyrus communis L.: greenhouse seedling selection and in situ parthenogenesis induced by irradiated pollen

Seedlings of 12 crosses involving pear varieties or hybrids were observed for the presence of haploid plants. On the basis of phenotypic characteristics, 17 plants corresponded to the haploid condition and, of these, 12 were determined by chromosome counting to be haploid (2n=x=17). In addition, and in order to induce in situ parthenogenesis, several pear varieties were pollinated with a selected clone carrying a homozygous dominant marker gene for the colour of red. This pollen had previously been irradiated with -rays of cobalt 60 at 0, 200, 250 and 500 Grays. The immature embryos were cultured in vitro, whereby 1 haploid and two mixoploid plants were obtained. Numerous diploid plants with the maternal phenotype were also obtained, and their genetic origin was subsequently studied by means of isozyme analysis.     

A review of chromosomal variation in Dugesia japonica and D. ryukyuensis in the Far East

The chromosome numbers of Dugesia japonica Ichikawa et Kawakatsu, 1964, are n = 8, 2x = 16 and 3x = 24; those of Dugesia ryukyuensis Kawakatsu, 1976, are n = 7, 2x = 14 and 3x = 21. The karyotypes of both species include diploid, triploid and mixoploid; aneuploidic and mixoaneuploidic karyotypes may occur. In 785 specimens studied of D. japonica, the occurrence rates of specimens having each karyotype are substantially the same (29–37%). Diploid sexual specimens represented nearly 10% of the total and virtually no triploid or mixoploid sexual specimens were found. The diploid karyotype can be inherited by both sexual and asexual reproduction; the triploid and mixoploid karyotypes will be inherited only by asexual reproduction. In 51 specimens studied of D. ryukyuensis, the different karyotypes are diploid (ca 39%), triploid (ca 57%) and mixoploid (ca 4%). Diploid sexual specimens represented nearly 25% of the total; sexual specimens with tripooidic karyotypes made up nearly 27%. The diploid, triploid and mixoploid karyotypes were also found in juveniles hatched from cocoons. The diploid karytyype is inherited by both sexual and asexual reproductions; the other karyotypes may be inherited by parthenogenesis or self-fertilization (including pseudogamy) and asexual reproduction.     

Conversion of oat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Avena sativa</Emphasis> L.) haploid embryos into plants in relation to embryo developmental stage and regeneration media

Obtaining oat DH lines is only effective via wide crossing with maize. Seven hundred haploid embryos from 21 single F₁ progeny obtained from wide crosses with maize were isolated, divided into four groups according to their size (<0.5 mm, 0.5–0.9 mm, 1.0–1.4 mm, and ≥1.5 mm), and transferred into 190–2 regeneration medium with different growth regulators: 0.5 mg L^?1 kinetin (KIN) and 0.5 mg L^?1 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA); 1 mg L^?1 zeatin (ZEA) and 0.5 mg L^?1 NAA; or 1 mg L^?1 dicamba (DIC), 1 mg L^?1 picloram (PIC), and 0.5 mg L^?1 kinetin (KIN). Among all isolated embryos, approximately 46.1% were between 1.0–1.4 mm, while the smallest group of embryos (7.1%) were those <0.5 mm. The ability of haploid embryos to germinate varied depending on oat genotypes and the size of embryos. Haploid embryos <0.5 mm were globular and did not germinate, whereas embryos ≥1.5 mm had clearly visible coleoptiles, radicles, and scutella, and were able to germinate. Germination of oat haploid embryos varied depending on growth regulators in the regeneration medium. Most haploid embryos germinated on medium with 0.5 mg L^?1 NAA and 0.5 mg L^?1 KIN, while the fewest germinated on medium with 1 mg L^?1 DIC, 1 mg L^?1 PIC, and 0.5 mg L^?1 KIN. One hundred thirty germinated haploid embryos converted into haploid plants. Fifty oat DH lines were obtained after colchicine treatment.     

药物诱导玉米孤雌生殖植株的倍性变异

实验结果表明,孤雌生殖植株根尖体细胞以二倍体细胞最多,占６８．９％,其次为非整倍体细胞,占２８．７％,其他异倍体和单倍体细胞极少（２．４％）。Ｐａ１植株可分为二倍体和混倍体两类,以二倍体细胞占绝对多数的混倍体植株最多,为８３．５％,这些植株生长发育和结实均正常。在花粉母细胞中正常二倍体频率比根尖体细胞明显提高,提高频率为３５．３一５９．６％,不同材料之间趋势一致。讨论了体细胞染色体变异的来源及其能否延续到生殖细胞。     

Production of haploids from anther culture of banana [<Emphasis Type="Italic">Musa balbisiana</Emphasis> (BB)]

We report here, for the first time, the production of haploid plants of banana Musa balbisiana (BB). Callus was induced from anthers in which the majority of the microspores were at the uninucleate stage. The frequency of callus induction was 77%. Callus proliferation usually preceded embryo formation. About 8% of the anthers developed androgenic embryos. Of the 147 plantlets obtained, 41 were haploids (n=x=11). The frequency of haploid production depended on genotypes used: 18 haploid plants were produced from genotype Pisang klutuk, 12 from Pisang batu, seven from Pisang klutuk wulung and four from Tani. The frequency of regeneration was 1.1%, which was based on the total number of anthers cultured. Diploid plants (2n=2x=22) were also observed in the regenerated plants. The haploid banana plants that were developed will be important material for the improvement of banana through breeding programmes.     

Recent advances in anther culture of Hevea brasiliensis (Muell.-Arg.)

Summary The yield of pollen embryoids from cultured Hevea anthers was increased 4 fold by optimizing the proportion of ammonium nitrate to potassium nitrate in the dedifferentiation medium. For optimal differentiation of pollen embryoids, kinetin, 2,4-D and -naphtalene acetic acid are required. Anther culture for 50 days on the dedifferentiation medium is a prerequisite for the selective development of calli and embryoids from microspores.The determination of chromosome numbers in embryoids, plantlets and regenerated trees reveals that they originate from (poly)haploid pollen grains (n=2x=18). Aneuploid, triploid (3x=27) and tetraploid (4x=36) cells were encountered in increasing frequencies as the embryoids and plants developed. A few haploid cells with 9 chromosomes were consistently observed. Buds from shoots with mixoploid chromosome numbers can be grafted and the change in the chromosome constitution of the developing new shoots followed.     

中国淡水三角涡虫染色体变化与生殖的关系

利用空气干燥法对淡水三角涡虫的染色体进行研究。结果表明：三角涡虫的染色体数目为n=8,2n=16,2n=24,为二倍体2n=2x=16、三倍体2n=3x=24和混合倍体2n=2x=16,2n=3x=24,有时也可见到非整倍体。以有性生殖为主的类群．有性生殖期间有性个体大量存在,生殖器官比较发达．染色体为二倍体;以无性生殖为主的类群,很少出现有性个体,染色体为三倍体;既有有性生殖又有无性生殖的类群,有性生殖期间,生殖器官发育稍差,染色体主要为混合倍体．有时出现二倍体或三倍体。本文对影响三角涡虫性成熟的因素也进行了讨论。