Effects of donor plant environment and light during incubation on anther cultures of some spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars

Four different growth environments (field, two phytotron greenhouses and one growth chamber) were compared, using two genotypes of spring wheat, one recalcitrant and one responsive. Field-grown plants gave inferior results. Large improvements could be made by improving the conditions, embryoid frequencies in the two genotypes reaching 77.1% and 183.9% per 100 anthers, respectively. High light intensity during the induction phase strongly suppressed induction in both genotypes, but stimulated regeneration of green plants in the recalcitrant genotype, which had the lowest regeneration ability. Weak, diffuse light did not inhibit induction while the positive effect on regeneration was maintained. Also, another recalcitrant genotype was grown in the field, together with two F₁-hybrids (recalcitrant x recalcitrant and recalcitrant x responsive). Evidence for a three-factor system was obtained.