Grass inflorescence and spikelet culture: An appraisal

Summary Techniques of inflorescence and spikelet culture have been used for three major cereals. In maize, the influence of hormones on sexuality has been demonstrated. For wheat and barley the influence of supplying carbohydrate and nitrogen on grain content has been explored. Although in vitro seed setting is less efficient than in vivo the resulting grains, from optimal treatments, are in almost all respects normal or nearly so. Culture media to achieve this are precisely defined.In reviewing this work a major concern has been to highlight an elegant system of enquiry but at the same time to indicate the remarkably small area of interest to which it has been applied. As a prelude therefore to a consideration of the technical achievements, the range of spikelet form, and more particularly, function are examined. The aim is to encourage the application of inflorescence and spikelet culture to a much wider range of topics than hitherto.