The use of anther-derived haploids in Nicotiana

Immature anthers from monosomic Nicotiana tabacum L. (“Purpurea”) plants were cultured on a chemically defined agar medium. Plantlets obtained from these anthers were transferred first to a rooting media and subsequently to soil in greenhouse pots. Six nullihaploid plant types have been isolated, two of which have been positively identified as nullihaploids C and E. Chromosome numbers (n?1=23) were verified somatically from root tip and corolla tissues and meiotically by observing PMC's at metaphase I. The chromosome number was doubled in one of the lines by culturing leaf midvein tissue on a modified anther culture media. The nullisomic chromosome number (2n?2=46) was determined in root tips, and the nullisomic condition of 23 bivalents was observed in metaphase I PMC's.