Effect of amino acids,growth regulators and genotype on androgenesis in barley

The effects of an amino acid mixture and of plant growth regulators added to the FHG barley anther culture medium were examined using three barley cultivars (Cadette, Léger, and Igri) grown in two environments (growth cabinet and glasshouse). ‘Léger’ and ‘Igri’ were known as responsive, and ‘Cadette’ as recalcitrant to androgenesis. Our first experiment showed that the amino acid-supplemented medium was best for embryogenesis and regeneration of ‘Cadette’ and ‘Igri’ in both environments, and if ‘Léger’ in the growth cabinet. The addition of ABA and TDZ did not improve embryogenesis and plant regeneration, and PAA decreased them in the growth cabinet. The addition of the amino acid mixture in the FHG medium also reduced the percentage of albino plants in the growth cabinet, but growth regulators did not improve the percentage of albino plants, and in some cases increased it. In the growth cabinet, disregarding media, ‘Léger’ produced more embryos than ‘Cadette’ and ‘Igri’, and Léger' and ‘Igri’ produced more green plants than ‘Cadette‘. Percentages of albino plants were higher or ‘Cadette’ than for ‘Igri’ or ‘Léger’. In a second experiment, we compared seven hybrids with their parents for androgenic responsiveness. Hybrids had a higher ability to generate green plants than expected based upon the weighted average reflecting the contribution of each parent. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.