Microspore Culture of Hybrids Between Brassica napus and B. campestris

Embryos and regenerated plants were produced by isolated microspore culture of inter-specific hybrids between Brassica napus and B. campestris. The NLN media with different sucrose concentrations and pH values were tested and a protocol for optimal microspore culture of B. carnpestris was identified. The reciprocal hybrids between UM921 (B. campestris) and 911186 (B. napus) had significant higher embryo yield than other cultured hybrids. Obvious improvement of embryo yield and quality was achieved when hybrid plants of reciprocal UM921 × 911186 were grown under 10 ℃/5 ℃ (day/night) condition. There was significant correlation between embryo yield and seeds per pod on hybrid plants but no correlation between pollen fertility and embryo yield was detected among cultured.hybrids. The majority of microspore-derived plants from the reciprocal B. napus × B. campestris hybrids are aneuploids and 22.8% of the plants observed originated from the microspores with parent′s chromosome numbers, almost all n = 19. The factors affecting the embryogenesis in microspore culture of interspecific hybrids and the possible applications of the technique are discussed.