Induction of microspore embryos in a CMS line of Brassica juncea and formation of the androgenic plantlets

Anther culture of two wide hybrids (Diplotaxis erucoides × Brassica campestris) × B. juncea and (D. berthautii × B. campestris) × B. juncea, their CMS lines and the parent species elicited a range of responses highlighting the importance of the genotype. Androgenesis was expressed in cultured anthers of CMS (D. erucoides) B. juncea (22.8%), in restored pollen fertile plants of this CMS line (1.66%), and in the parent, B. juncea cv Pusa Bold (13.02%). AgNO₃ was essential for androgenic response in the CMS lines, and it markedly increased the frequency of androgenesis in the cultivated species. Multiple crops of microspore embryos were obtained from responsive anthers of CMS plants in anther recultures. As high as92% microspore embryos of the CMS line germinated on basal B₅medium and formed normal plantlets. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Fertile maize lines obtained from isolated microspores

Microspore response of three- way cross maize hybrid genotype 3AL/95 (Zea mays L.) was studied under simplified isolation and culture conditions. Fertile plant production was achieved through abundant plant regeneration. As a total, microspores of 160 tassels were inoculated and five sustainable microspore derived callus cultures (SMC) were obtained. Hybrid seeds (ML SC), which were produced by crossing of regenerates from two SMCs, gave rise to subsequent vigorous and fertile progeny. The response of the 3AL/95 and ML SC microspores was studied in three liquid culture media in order to improve the early viability of microspores. Them N6M medium provided better survival of cultured microspores (p = 5%) than the ppN6M/89 and the YPM-G media. The pH 5.8 in mN6M medium revealed significant increase (p = 1%) in microspore viability as compared to pH 3.0. The ML SC microspores showed higher viability(30%) on the first day of culture in the mN₆M than those of the3AL/95 (19%) but without improved rate of callus formation and plant regeneration. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The Use of Ovule Culture in Reciprocal Hybridization between B. campestris L. and B. oleracea L.

Ovule culture was used to overcome postzygotic interspecific incompatibility in reciprocal crosses between Brassica campestris and B. oleracea. Hybrid plants were obtained from 82 % of all reciprocal pollinations, representing 91 % of the attempted combinations. Comparisons of the embryo culture and the ovule culture indicated a significantly higher germination rate after ovule culture.     

Plant Regeneration from the Hybridization of Brassica juncea and B. napus Through Embryo Culture

Crosses were made to produce interspecific hybrids between Brassica napus × B. juncea and their reciprocals with the aid of embryo culture techniques. A better response of hybrid embryo culture was obtained from two cross combinations of B. juncea × B. napus (Ames 24521 × Huyou 15 and Vittasso × Zheshuang 72) than from their reciprocals. Embryo culture was more effective in terms of plant regeneration when embryos were cultured in vitro at 15 days after pollination (DAP), while more calli were initiated when embryos were excised and cultured at 10 DAP. A better response was observed on the MS medium with 0.3 mg l^?1 naphthylacetic acid (NAA) + 1.5 mg l^?1 6‐benzylaminopurine (BAP) and with 0.3 mg l^?1 NAA + 2.0 mg l^?1 BAP. Callus formation and plant regeneration on these two media reached 55.43 and 26.65 %, and 66.98 and 24.61 %, respectively.     

Effect of activated charcoal on Brassica oleracea microspore culture embryogenesis

The effect of the addition of a 0.1 ml drop of activated charcoal (AC) on microspore culture embryogenesis was studied in nine morphotypes of Brassica oleracea. Embryo yields were significantly increased in all of the morphotypes by the addition of the 0.1 ml drop of AC to the microspore culture media. The magnitude of the response to the addition of AC varied with the different plants and morphotypes. The addition of AC never produced a detrimental effect. A qualitative improvement of the subsequent development of embryos to plants was also observed with the addition of AC. Data suggest that the addition of AC to microspore culture media promoted embryo production in different B. oleracea morphotypes. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

High frequency spontaneous production of doubled haploid plants in microspore cultures of Brassica rapa ssp. chinensis

Brassica rapa (syn. Brassica campestris) ssp. chinensis is an important vegetable crop, but it is relatively recalcitrant to microspore culture. One genotype each of B. rapa ssp. chinensis var. communisand var. utilis were used formicrospore culture. Embryo production of3.8–42.4 embryos/bud was obtained. A high rate of plant regeneration directly from microspore-derived embryos without subculture was achieved by an improved protocol involving replacement of culture media and reduction of sucrose concentrations after 48 h of induction,among other modifications. More than 70%of regenerated plants were spontaneous diploids. Some spontaneous tetraploid plants were also obtained from isolated microspores of both genotypes tested. These tetraploids may be directly exploited a snew varieties in a Brassica rapabreeding programme. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

油菜小孢子培养和双单倍体育种研究Ⅱ. 影响甘蓝型油菜和芥菜型油菜种间杂种胚产量的因素

对甘蓝型油菜与芥菜型油菜种间杂交F1代杂种进行离体小孢子培养研究.结果表明:(1)F1杂种胚产量受亲本基因型的影响；(2)在F1杂种花粉可育率为30%～43%的范围内，F1杂种花粉可育率对有效胚产量无明显影响；(3)供体植株年龄对高胚产量的材料无明显影响，对低胚产量的材料有明显影响.(4)提出用花药颜色来选择适合的小孢子培养的     

Regeneration of fertile doubled haploid plants from colchicine-supplemented media in wheat anther culture

The effect of colchicine added to induction medium for the production of fertile doubled haploid plants after in‐vitro anther culture was studied in wheat, Triticum aestivum L. For this, one winter and two spring wheat varieties were used. Anther cultures of the three genotypes were treated with 0.03% colchicine for 3 days at the beginning of microspore induction. Colchicine had no significant effect on anther response and embryoid production of the genotypes examined. However, in the winter wheat genotype ‘Mv Szigma’, colchicine caused a significant reduction in microspore‐derived structures. A significant decrease was also observed in plant regeneration ability of two genotypes (‘Vergina’ and ‘Acheloos’) after colchicine treatment. In addition, a significant reduction of the albinos produced was observed in all genotypes after olchicine treatment. In contrast, the regenerants obtained from the colchicine‐supplemented induction media produced significantly higher percentages of fertile plants in all genotypes. However, the level of fertility, was significantly different among the fertile plants obtained. This, together with the observation that in the case of the winter wheat variety the colchicine treatment resulted in 100% completely fertile plants with a high seed‐setting ability indicate that there is space for further improvement of the method when it is applied to spring cultivars. Finally, the increased number of seeds per 100 plated anthers obtained from all three genotypes after colchicine treatment, clearly demonstrates that the addition of colchicine to induction medium was superior to the conventional anther culture method and it could therefore be introduced into wheat breeding programmes.     

Microspore culture is successful in most crop types of Brassica oleracea L.

Summary Microspore culture was shown to be applicable to a broad range of accessions belonging to six horticulturally important crop types of Brassica oleracea: broccoli, white cabbage, cauliflower, savoy cabbage, Brussels sprouts and curly kale. Of 64 accessions tested 86% were responsive. Large genotypic differences were found in number of embryos produced per flower bud, and in frequency and mode of regeneration of plants from embryos. B. oleracea was characterized by a strong asynchrony of microspore development within single buds. Microspore populations optimal for culture contained a large proportion (10–40%) of binucleate pollen. An initial high temperature treatment was essential for microspore embryogenesis. Growth conditions of the donor plants during inflorescence formation were less critical.     

Development of B-Genome Chromosome Addition Lines of B. napus Using Different Interspecific Brassica Hybrids

By interspecific hybridization within the genus Brassica, trigenomic haploids were produced and back-crossed four times with B. napus, variety ‘Andor’. From this material, monosomic B-genome chromosome addition lines were selected with the extra chromosome derived from three different B-genome sources, i.e., B. nigra (BB), B. carinata (BBCC), and B. juncea (AABB). After selfing and/or microspore culture, disomic addition lines were obtained. Meiotic behavior was studied of the trigenomic hybrids, the pentaploid BC₁ plants, and the monosomic addition lines. The addition lines were shown to possess cytological stability and good fertility.     

Microspore mutagenesis of Brassica species for fatty acid modifications: a preliminary evaluation

A microspore mutagenesis protocol was developed for Brassica rapa, Brassica napus and Brassica juncea for the production of double haploid lines with novel fatty acid profiles in the seed oil. Freshly isolated Brassica microspores were first cultured with ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS) for 1.5 h. The EMS was removed and the microspores were then cultured according to the standard Brassica microspore culture protocol. This protocol was used to generate over 80 000 Brassica haploid/double haploid plants. Field evaluation of B. napus and B. juncea double haploids was conducted between 2000 and 2003. Fatty acid analysis of the B. napus double haploid lines showed that saturated fatty acid proportions ranged from 5.0% to 7.7%. For B. juncea, saturate proportions ranged from 5.4% to 9.5%. Of the 7000 B. rapa lines that were analysed, 197 lines had elevated oleic acid (>55%), 69 lines had reduced α‐linolenic acid (<8%) and 157 lines had low saturated fatty acid proportions (<5%), when compared with the parental lines.     

Comparative analysis of in vitro anther- and isolated microspore culture in hexaploid Triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) for androgenic parameters

Two haploid induction media (190-0 and W14mi) were tested in isolated microspore culture of two triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) genotypes. The W14mi medium proved superior for the production of green plantlets in both genotypes. This basic medium (W14) was used to compare two doubled haploid production methods (isolated microspore culture and anther culture) with the same genotypes. The induction of androgenesis was more effective in isolated microspore culture than in anther culture. The number of embryo-like structures was 9.2 times higher in microspore culture (511.0/100 anthers) compared to anther culture (55.5/100 anthers) and the number of regenerant plantlets was also 3.4 times higher (anther culture—20.15/100 anthers; isolated microspore culture—67.6/100 anthers). However, the regenerant plantlets from isolated microspore culture were mainly albinos while predominantly green plantlets were regenerated from anther culture. The production of green plantlets from anther culture (16.8/100 anthers) was 2.9 times higher than from isolated microspore culture (5.8/100 anthers). The efficiency of anther culture was tested with eight winter triticale genotypes. The phenomenon of albinism did not hinder the green plant production in anther culture. Mean green plantlet production was 10.87/100 anthers. This value was two times higher than the number of albinos (5.01/100 anthers) and higher than previously published reports. The anther culture protocol described in this study is an efficient tool for the production of microspore-derived green plantlets in triticale.     

Optimization of culture conditions for improved plant regeneration efficiency from wheat microspore culture

The production of haploid plants through microspore culture is a very important tool for plant breeding. However, progress in microspore culture for many species has been hampered by a number of factors that have resulted in low recovery of regenerated green plants. In this study, a series of experiments were conducted to increase the regeneration of haploid green plants from isolated wheat microspores. The use of different basal media and variations in media components resulted in the increased recovery (approximately double) of regenerated haploid wheat plants. Our findings demonstrate that CHB medium, in combination with 2,4-d, was a better medium for embryoids induction and plant regeneration than medium MC17 with either 2,4-d or PAA growth hormones. Wheat microspores cultured without ovary co-cultivation did not respond. Furthermore, high efficiency of microspore derived embryoids (up to 296 MDEs per 100 anthers) and green plant regeneration (up to 71 green plants per 100 anthers) were achieved by the use of gelrite instead of agarose as a gelling agent, and by the addition of media additives such as spent medium or MET.     

Efficient doubled haploid production in microspore culture of loose-curd cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis)

We present an improved protocol for highly efficient production of doubled haploid loose-curd cauliflower plants (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) via microspore culture. Our experiment explored factors such as donor plant treatment, flower bud pretreatment, embryo germination medium, and ploidy characterization of regenerated plants. Our technique efficiently produced embryos from both tight- and loose-curd donor plants, although the embryo yields were genotype dependent. We achieved a germination rate of around 30 % by employing a hormone combination of zeatin, indole-3-acetic acid, and 6-benzylaminopurine pretreatment culture. We also used 1–4 days of cold pretreatment of the flower buds, which were submerged into NLN-13 medium, to induce microspore embryogenesis. Analysis using an FCM Ploidy Analyzer showed that more than 50 % of regenerated plants were spontaneously doubled haploids, more than 25 % were tetraploids, and fewer than 7 % were haploid. Visual examination of plants in the field revealed that they had distinct phenotypic characteristics relating to their ploidy level. The efficient production of double haploids using our improved microspore culture technique is a promising approach that can be applied in loose-curd cauliflower breeding programmes and genetic research.     

Ploidy of broccoli regenerated from microspore culture versus anther culture

The use of microspore or anther culture to generate doubled-haploids (DH) is an important adjunct to broccoli breeding) Regenerated populations from broccoli anther culture are usually mixtures of ploidy. However, ploidy composition of populations derived from microspore culture has not been reported. The purpose of the present study was to characterize regenerants derived from microspore culture, to evaluate factors influencing these characteristics and to compare results with those from anther culture. Eight populations, four from each culture method, were generated simultaneously using the same four F₁ hybrids as donor parents. The ploidy level of all regenerants was determined by DNA flow cytometry: the majority of them were diploid. As in anther culture, a mixture of ploidy was observed in all populations derived from microspore culture. Ploidy variation was more frequent among clonal families from anther culture (10%) than microspore culture (5%)‘Everest’ was the most productive donor parent with both methods, while ‘Greenbelt’ and ‘Major’ were least productive in anther and microspore culture, respectively. Genotype specificity for the total number of regenerated plants and ploidy composition occurred in both culture methods.     

Improving ovary and embryo culture techniques for efficient resynthesis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica napus</Emphasis> from reciprocal crosses between yellow-seeded diploids <Emphasis Type="Italic">B. rapa</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">B. oleracea</Emphasis>

The primary aim of this study was to optimize in vitro culture protocols to establish an efficient reproducible culture system for different Brassica interspecific crosses, and to synthesize yellow-seeded Brassica napus (AACC) for breeding and genetical studies. Reciprocal crosses were carried out between three B. rapa L. ssp. oleifera varieties (AA) and five accessions of B. oleracea var. acephala (CC). All the parental lines were yellow-seeded except one accession of B. oleracea. Hybrids were obtained through either ovary culture from crosses B. rapa × B. oleracea, or embryo culture from crosses B. oleracea × B. rapa. A higher rate of hybrid production was recorded when ovaries were cultured at 4–7 days after pollination (DAP). Of different culture media, medium E (MS with half strength macronutrients) showed good response for ovaries from all the crosses, the highest rate of hybrid production reaching 45% in B. rapa (1151) × B. oleracea (T₂). In embryo culture, the hybrid rate was significantly enhanced at 16–18 DAP, up to 48.1% in B. oleracea (T₃) × B. rapa (JB₂). The combinations of optimal DAP for excision and media components increased recovery of hybrids for ovary and embryo culture, and constituted an improved technique for B. rapa × B. oleracea crosses. In addition, yellow seeds were obtained from progenies of two crosses, indicating the feasibility of developing yellow-seeded B. napus through the hybridization between yellow-seeded diploids B. rapa and B. oleracea var. acephala.     

Resynthesizing <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica napus</Emphasis> from interspecific hybridization between <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica rapa</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">B. oleracea</Emphasis> through ovary culture

Using three varieties of Brassica rapa, cv. Hauarad (accession 708), cv. Maoshan-3 (714) and cv. Youbai (715), as the maternal plants and one variety of B. oleracea cv. Jingfeng-1 (6012) as the paternal plant, crosses were made to produce interspecific hybrids through ovary culture techniques. A better response of seed formation was observed when ovaries were cultured in vitro at 9–12 days after pollination on the basal MS and B5 media supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) and naphthylacetic acid (NAA). The best response was observed for cross 714×6012 with the rate of seeds per ovary reaching 43.0%. Seeds for cross 715×6012 showed the best germination response (66.7%) on the regeneration medium (MS+1.0 mg l^–1 BA+0.05 mg l^–1 NAA). In all three cross combinations, good response in terms of root number and length of plants was observed on the root induction medium (MS+1.0 mg l^–1 BA+0.1 mg l^–1 NAA). A better response was observed for the regenerated plants cultured for 14 days than for 7 days. The ovary-derived plants with well-developed root system were hardened for 8 days and their survival rate reached over 80%. Cytological studies showed that the chromosome number of all plants tested was 19 (the sum of both parents), indicating that these regenerated plants were all true hybrids of B. rapa (n = 10) × B. oleracea (n = 9). The regenerated plants were doubled with colchicine treatment, and the best response in the crosses 708×6012, 714×6012 and 715×6012 was observed when treated with 170 mg l^–1 colchicine for up to 30 h and their doubling frequency reached 52, 56 and 62%, respectively.     

Utility of AFLP markers for the assessment of genetic diversity within Brassica nigra germplasm

Genetic diversity of 18 Brassica nigra accessions was estimated using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) marker technology. Two B. rapa and two B. juncea accessions were selected as outliers in the study. Eight AFLP primer combinations generated a total of 426 bands, of which 79% were polymorphic. The UPGMA method was employed to construct a dendrogram based on the Jaccard's similarity coefficient. The accessions of B. rapa separated from those of B. nigra at a genetic similarity coefficient of 0.27 while those of B. juncea did so at 0.5. The genetic similarity coefficients within the B. nigra accessions ranged from 0.58 to 0.86. Based on these coefficients it was concluded that the B. nigra accessions show high levels of genetic variation. These results have significant implications in the crop improvement programmes for the agronomically important crop B. juncea, an amphidiploid of B. nigra and B. rapa. Two incorrectly labelled B. nigra accessions were also identified. These accessions were found to cluster with those of B. juncea accessions. This result demonstrates the great value of AFLP markers in the management of genebanks.     

Glucosinolates Determined by HPLC in the Seeds of Microspore-Derived Homozygous Lines of Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)*

Microspore culture was employed to measure the relative efficiencies of anther culture and isolated microspore culture for the regeneration of embryoids and plants of Brassica napus. The yield of embryoids and plants was at least 10-fold greater from isolated microspores than from anther cultures. Approximately 1400 microspore-derived homozygous line's, the parental varieties and the corresponding F₂ plants were grown in a field trial. Important agricultural characteristics, such as morphological homogeneity, growth rate, onset of flowering and seed setting were evaluated subjectively and seed yield and glucosinolate content of individual plants were determined. The relative concentrations of up to S different glucosinolates in these seeds were measured via an automated high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system. The alkenyl and indole glucosinolates, the two most important categories of glucosinolates, were found in varying proportions and were independently determined in these line's. Our results do not support the previously suggested connection between low concentrations of glucosinolates and weak growth and/or poor seed yield. Additionally, no evidence was found that the lines derived from isolated microspore culture were subjected to unexpected selection pressures that might adversely affect the diversity of the lines obtained. These results demonstrate that microspore culture is a powerful tool not only for genetic analysis bur also for practical plant breeding.     

Response of different genotypes of Brassica carinata to microspore culture

Sixteen lines of Brassica carinata were evaluated for microspore culture and plant regeneration. The highest values of cell division and embryo yield resulted from buds between 2.5 and 3.5 mm long with 3 days of pretreatment at 32°C and plating densities of 100 000-150 000 microspores/ml. Ten out of 16 lines tested (63%) responded positively to microspore culture. In all breeding and F₁ lines, both cell division and embryo yield varied over a wide range, but embryogenic response was higher in F₁ lines than in the breeding lines.