Die Nutzung der Antherenkulturmethode im Zuchtprozeß von Winterweizen

Anther culture in the breeding process of winter wheat. I. Ability of 1B—-1R wheat-rye translocation forms for androgenesis 45 winter wheat varieties or F₁ hybrids, F₂ populations and lines with 1B—1R wheat-rye translocation were tested for their anther culture ability. A total of 48058 anthers was cultured on Potato-2 medium. When averaged over all genotypes and the two experimental years frequencies of embryoid formation of 5.4—6.8 per 100 anthers were observed. Plant regeneration efficiency from embryoids ranged from 5.3—9.1 % or a mean of 4—5 green plants per 1000 anthers plated. The results confirmed the preferential regeneration frequency of gametes with the 1BL—1RS chromosome compared to the gametes with the 1BL—IBS chromosome. Multiple peroxidase were used as marker. The effect of cold pretreatment or of media on the androgenetic response and productivity was not important. On the contrary the variability between the anther response from single ears of the same genotype was noticeable. Examples are presented for the transferability of the androgenetic ability to breeding material. Most green plants obtained were haploid or spontaneous doubled haploid. By cloning it was guaranteed, that progenies were obtained from most of the haploids after colchicine treatment.     

Die Nutzung der Antherenkulturmethode im Zuchtprozeß von Winterweizen

The use of anther culture in breeding winter wheat. II. Production of new doubled haploid lines of winter wheat with 1AL—1RS-translocation A total of 4472 anhers was cultured from 8 F¹ populations of winter wheat with the 1AL—1RS wheat-rye translocation cultivar ‘Amigo’ as one of the crossing arents. When averaged over all populations a frequency of embruoid formation of 10% and of regeneration efficiency of green plants of 1% were observed. In addition to the 45 green regenerated plants, 93 albinos were obtained. 44% of the green plantlets had 21 chromosome in root tips and 29% were spontaneous diploids. Multiple peroxidases were used a biochemical markers in the subsequent characterization of the homogeneous breeding material. The electrophoretic patterns showed that 16 doubled haploids without rye chromosome segments were produced. In addition the features of dh₀- plants showed, that several of the new 1AL—1RS-translocation lines were awnless.     

Dosage Response of Rye Genes in a Wheat Background

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) breeders often utilize alien sources to supply new genetic variation to their breeding programs. However, the alien gene complexes have not always behaved as desired when placed into a wheat background. The introgressed genes of interest may be linked to undesirable genes, expressed at low levels or not at all. The short arm of rye (Secale cereale L.) chromosome one (1RS) contains many valuable genes for wheat improvement. In order to study rye gene response to varying copy number, wheat lines were constructed which contained zero, two or four doses of 1RS. The meiotic behavior of rye chromosome 1R, and wheat/rye translocation chromosomes, 1AL/1RS and 1BL/1RS was studied in the F₁ hybrids between wheat lines carrying 1R or the translocation chromosomes. The IRS arm was transmitted at a very high frequency; 98 % of the F₂ plants had at least one of the chromosomes with a IRS arm. In addition, 44 % of the F₂ plants received at least one copy of the chromosomes from each parent. Analysis of the meiotic behavior of the IRS arm suggested that few euploid wheat gametes were formed. Therefore, most of the pollen must have contained IRS. It is unknown whether the lack of euploid wheat pollen could account for the high transmission frequency of the rye chromosomes. There may have been differential survival of the embryos receiving the rye chromosome as well.     

基因型和环境条件对小麦花药培养效果的影响

为进一步提高小麦花培育种效率,明确花药培养力的遗传控制基础,以11个小麦品种及其组配的20个F₁杂种为材料,探讨了基因型、培养基和环境条件对愈伤组织诱导率的影响。在W14D、W14gD、W14GD培养基上,Alondra、Verry、石4185、新春9号和百农3217的花药易被诱导产生愈伤组织,诱导率为25.3%~51.9%,其中石4185是目前公认的花培育种优良亲本,新春9号为新发现的优良花培基因型。以宁春4号配制的部分F₁杂种的愈伤组织诱导率较高,大多数组合高于10.0%,表明宁春4号与供试品种间具有较高的花药培养配合力。小麦花培育种技术要求亲本之一具有较高的花药愈伤组织诱导率或较高的花药培养配合力。小麦花药培养力的遗传控制复杂,表现为数量性状遗传,亲本花药培养力很高,其F₁组合花药培养力不一定很高,这与双亲配合力有关。小麦花药培养中,供体植株生长和愈伤组织诱导的适宜条件为较长的营养生长期、适宜的前期(分蘖期)温度和较高的中期(拔节后期)温度。在添加低浓度生长素和葡萄糖的液体培养基中发现小麦花药直接成苗现象,2,4-D诱导花药直接成苗效果优于Dicamba。随着年度间气候升高的影响,相同基因型花药愈伤组织诱导率呈现增加趋势。     

Relative Efficiency of Anther Culture and Chromosome Elimination Techniques for Haploid Induction in Triticale × Wheat and Triticale × Triticale Hybrids

Summary The study was undertaken to evaluate the relative efficiency of anther culture and chromosome elimination (by crosses with maize) techniques of haploid induction in intergenotypic triticale and triticale × wheat hybrids. For this, 15 triticale × wheat and 8 triticale × triticale F₁ hybrids were subjected to anther culture and were also simultaneously crossed with the `Madgran Local' genotype of maize (Zea mays L.) to induce haploids through the chromosome elimination technique. The haploid embryo formation frequency through the chromosome elimination technique was significantly higher in both, triticale × wheat (20.4%) and triticale × triticale (17.0%) F₁ genotypes, as compared to the calli induction frequencies through anther culture (1.6 and 1.4%, respectively). Further, four triticale × wheat and three triticale × triticale F₁ genotypes failed to respond to anther culture, whereas, all the F₁ genotypes formed sufficient number of haploid embryos through the chromosome elimination technique with no recovery of albino plantlets. The haploid plantlet regeneration frequencies were also significantly higher through the latter technique in both triticale × wheat (42.7%) and triticale × triticale (49.4%) F₁s as compared to anther culture (8.2 and 4.0%, respectively), where the efficiency was drastically reduced by several constraints like, high genotypic specificity, low regeneration frequency and albinism. The overall success rates of obtaining doubled haploids per 100 pollinated florets/anthers cultured were also significantly higher through the chromosome elimination technique (1.1% in triticale × wheat and 1.5% in triticale × triticale hybrids), proving it to be a highly efficient and economically more viable technique of haploid induction as compared to anther culture, where the success rates were only 0.2% and 0.1%, respectively.     

Potential use of doubled haploid lines for the screening of resistance to yellow rust (Puccinia striiformis) in hexaploid wheat

Doubled haploid lines derived from anther culture of two Iranian spring wheat genotypes‘Ghods’susceptible and‘9106’resistant to yellow rust in Iranian field conditions, and their F₁ hybrids were used in this study. Seedlings of 36 doubled haploid lines, selected out of 96 according to their agronomic traits and the two parental genotypes were inoculated with eight races of yellow rust. The parental genotypes (‘Ghods’and‘9106’) were segregating for some of the races but their doubled haploid lines were either resistant or susceptible to them.‘Ghods’was susceptible to three of the races studied but three doubled haploid lines derived from it were resistant to them. Five selected doubled haploids from the‘9106’genotype and six from F₁ hybrid plants were resistant to all eight races tested. After further investigations in Iranian field conditions it was found that some of these lines can be used as donor genotypes for resistance to yellow rust in wheat breeding programmes. Use of these genotypes should be possible if the French yellow rust races used for selection also represent the dominant races in Iran. It can be concluded that anther culture provides an efficient method for fixing genes of resistance to yellow rust and desirable doubled haploids from F₁ plants can be derived.     

Breeding of widely compatible restorer lines in rice (Oryza sativa L.) through anther culture

Following anther culture of various F₁ hybrids of indica restorer (R) lines/wide compatible varieties (WCVs) and japonica R lines/WCVs, the homozygous diploid plants (2n) generated were test-crossed with indica WA type cytoplasmic-genetic male sterile (CMS) line Zhanshan 97A (WA), indica testers Nanjing 11 and Nante, japonica BT CMS line Hanfeng A (BT), and japonica testers Balilla and Akihikari to identify widely compatible restorer lines. The results of this study showed that among the diploid pollen plants generated from F₁ hybrids of indica R lines/WCVs, 36.7% and 64.7% possessed normal fertility restoration ability (rate of seed-setting > 80%) to Hanfeng A and Zhanshan 97A, respectively. 71.3% and 32.3% had normal fertility restoration ability to Hanfeng A and Zhanshan 97A, respectively, in diploid pollen plants derived from the japonica R lines/WCVs F₁'s anther culture. Several widely compatible R lines were selected from anther culture of F₁ hybrids of indica R lines/WCVs and japonica R lines/WCVs. These widely compatible R lines derived from diploid pollen plants showed good wide compatibility and restoration ability both to WA and BT type CMS lines. Strong standard heterosis of major agronomic traits and yield traits was observed in F₁ test-crosses of widely compatible R lines with Hanfeng A and Zhanshan 97A. The wide compatibility in widely compatible R lines H17, H158 and H281 was studied by a set of three-way crosses. Segregation of the fertile plants with seed-setting rate > 70% and semi-fertile plants with seed-setting rate > 69.9% agreed with a ratio of 1:1, indicating that wide compatibility in these widely compatible R lines is governed by a pair of major genes. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Comparison of Anther Culture and Hordeum bulbosum Method for the Production of Doubled Haploid in Winter Barley I. Production of Green Plants

The relative response to two-major techniques of producing haploids in barley – anther culture and the Hordeum bulbosyum method – were compared using seven F₁ hybrids from a winter barley breeding programme. Both techniques were Applied to the same plants with the same number of replications. 358 viable green plants were obtained from 420 spikes ot donor plants used: 147 through anther culture and 211 through the H. bulbosum method. From the data analysis we found that the response to the two techniques was not significantly different, genotype effect and genotype × technique interaction were highly significant. The possibility of combining the two techniques in a doubled haploid production programme is discussed.     

Anther culture of recalcitrant indica × Basmati rice hybrids

Fertile, green, di-haploid plants were obtained at high frequencies from several indica × Basmati rice F₁ hybrids and/or F₂ plant populations using an improved anther culture procedure. Anthers from cold-pretreated (10 ^°C for 10 d) panicles of six indica (HKR120, HKR86-3, HKR86-217, PR106, Gobind andCH2 double dwarf) and two Basmati rice (Basmati 370,Taraori Basmati) varieties and 14 heterotic indica ×Basmati F₁/F₂ hybrids were cultured in modified agarose-solidified N6M, Heh5M and RZM media. Best callus induction frequencies (2.6–78%) were obtained in RZM medium containing 4% (w/v) maltose,2,4-D, NAA and kinetin. F₂ plants compared to F₁ hybrids and parental rice varieties, were more responsive to anther culture. Androgenesis frequencies of 31–78% were obtained for indica × Basmati F₂ plants in RZM medium in just 30 d which are comparable to or higher than that reported for japonica rice varieties and hybrids involving japonica rice parent(s). Agarose (1.0% w/v)-solidified MS medium containing 3.0% maltose, kinetin, BAP, and NAA, induced green shoot regeneration in 0–51% of the anther-derived callide pending upon the genotype. High plant regeneration frequencies (67–337 green plants per 1000 anthers)were obtained from anther calli of several F₁hybrids (Gobind × Basmati 370 and HKR120 ×Taraori Basmati) and F₂ plants (Gobind × Basmati370, Gobind × Taraori Basmati, HKR86-3 × TaraoriBasmati). A sample of 498 plants obtained from the above hybrids, were transferred to pots with>90% survival; 8–78% of these plants had >5%spikelet fertility and were diploid. In addition,18% of the haploid plants could be diploidized by submerging in 0.1% colchicine solution for 16–18 h. The improved anther culture procedure reported here, resulted in several fold increase in the recovery of green plants from recalcitrant indica × Basmati rice hybrids compared to previous published procedures. The study may accelerate the introgression of desirable genes from indica into Basmati rice using anther culture as a breeding tool. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Rapid introduction of disease resistance from rye into common wheat by anther culture of a 6x triticale × nulli-tetrasomic wheat

Powdery mildew (caused by Erysiphe graminis) and yellow rust (caused by Puccinia striiformis) are the two most serious wheat diseases found in China. Rye chromosomes, carrying genes for resistance to these diseases, were introduced into common wheat in two generations using chromosome engineering and anther culture. The F₁ hybrids from a cross involving a hexaploid triticale (×Triticosecale Wittmack) בChinese Spring’ nulli‐tetrasomic N6DT6A wheat aneuploid line were anther cultured and doubled‐haploid plants were regenerated. Using genomic in situ hybridization, C‐banding and biochemical marker analyses, one of the anther‐cultured lines (ZH‐1)studied in detail, proved to be a doubled‐haploid with one rye chromosome pair added (1R) and a homozygous 6R/6D substitution (2n= 44). The line was tested for expression of disease resistance and found to be highly resistant to powdery mildew and moderately resistant to yellow rust.     

Influence of winter and spring wheat genetic backgrounds on haploid induction parameters and trait correlations in the wheat × maize system

The interactive influence of winter and/or spring wheat genetic background on haploid induction parameters and trait correlation was studied by hybridizing five elite and diverse genotypes each of winter and spring wheat and their F₁s (winter × winter, spring × spring, and winter × spring, generated in a diallel design excluding reciprocals) with a single genotype of maize. Data were recorded with respect to per cent seed formation, embryo formation, and regeneration. High genetic variability was present among the wheat genotypes (parents + F₁s) for the three haploid induction parameters. Significant differences were obtained within and between different groups viz., spring wheats, winter wheats, spring × spring wheats, winter × winter wheats, and winter × spring wheats with respect to the three haploid induction parameters based on ANOVA. The winter genotypes (winter parents and winter × winter wheat hybrids) responded better than the spring groups (spring wheat parents, spring × spring and winter × spring wheat hybrids) with respect to embryo formation and winter × spring wheat hybrids yielded significantly the highest numbers of regenerants. Correlation studies amongst the haploid induction parameters indicated that the genes controlling seed formation and haploid plantlet regeneration are negatively correlated when the genetic backgrounds of both ecotypes are combined in winter × spring hybrids. Haploid embryo formation had no association with seed formation and regeneration in all genetic backgrounds, suggesting independent inheritance.     

Cytogenetic analysis of a spontaneous 5B/6B translocation in tetraploid wheat landraces from Ethiopia, and implications for breeding

Three tetraploid (2n= 4x= 28) wheat Triticum turgidum L. landrace morphotypes (= genotypes) from Ethiopia were found to carry a variant karyotype directly discernible under the microscope. This was possible because the rearrangement involved one of the satellited chromosomes. Giemsa C-banding revealed that the rearrangement resulted from a 5BS.6BS(5BL.6BL) centric reciprocal translation. The banding pattern on 5BL was polymorphic, suggesting that this translocation might have occurred more than once. There was little C-band polymorphism for the remaining chromosomes, except for 2A. As pure lines, all three morphotypes showed normal chromosome pairing at metaphase I (MI) in pollen mother cells (PMCs). indicating that they are genomically stable. Meiotic analyses of F₁ hybrids and F₂ segregates derived from crosses with tester varieties clearly indicated that one of them (B-l–9) carried another translocation. However, we were not successful in delecting the chromosomes involved, presumably the interchanged segments did nol include C-banding regions. By using T5BS.6BS, direct evidence for segregation distortion against translocation homozygotes in intervarietal hybrids was obtained. The distorted segregation was attributed lo zygotic selection. No aneuploid plants were obtained from the F₂ segregates. However, translocation heterozygotes resulting in unstable meiosis were abundant in the F₂ generation. The implications of the results in using the indigenous landraces in hybridization breeding are discussed.     

Large-scale production of wheat and triticale double haploids through the use of a single-anther culture method

A total of 257 parental wheat and 38 triticale lines were used for anther culture. On average, 2.1 green wheat haploids were obtained per spike. This response occurred irrespective of the origin of the material (Germany, France, Sweden or UK) and 5 years of testing. Triticale responded with 5.3 green haploids per spike. Using the criterion that one parental line should give at least one green haploid per spike in the screening experiment, green haploids were produced from 88 out of 91 F₁ wheat breeding combinations and from each of 21 F₁ and F₂ triticale breeding combinations. An average of 4.7 green plants were obtained per spike from the wheat production programme, while the triticale programme gave an average of 6.2 green plants per spike. A single medium supplemented with different hormones for anthers and embryos was used for culture of both crops.     

Intergeneric Transfer (Rye to Wheat) of a Gene(s) for Russian Wheat Aphid Resistance

An octoploid triticale was derived from the F, of a Russian wheat aphid-resistant rye, ‘Turkey 77’, and ‘Chinese Spring’ wheat. The alloploid was crossed to common wheat, and to ‘Imperial’ rye/‘Chinese Spring’ disomic addition lines. F₂, progeny from these crosses were tested for Russian wheat aphid resistance and C-banded. A resistance gene(s) was found to be associated with chromosome arm IRS of the ‘Turkey 77’ rye genome. A monotelosomic IRS (‘Turkey 77’) addition plant was then crossed with the wheat cultivar ‘Gamtoos’, which has the 1BL.1RS ‘Veery’ translocation. Unlike the IRS segment in ‘Gamtoos’, the ‘Turkey 77’-derived 1 RS telosome did not express the rust resistance genes Sr31 and Ar26, which could then be used as markers. From the F, a monotelosomic 1 RS addition plant that was also heterozygous for the 1BL. 1 RS translocation was selected and testerossed with an aphid-susceptible common wheat, ‘Inia 66’ Meiotic pairing between the rye arms resulted in the recovery of five euploid Russian-wheat-aphid-resistant plants. One recombinant also retained Sr31 and Lr26 and was selfed to produce translocation homozygotes.     

Characterization of wheat-triticale doubled haploid lines by cytological and biochemical markers

Five wheat-triticale doubled haploid (DH) lines— M08, V209, DH220-14-2, DH696-3-4 and M16 —derived from anther culture of F₁s resulting from crosses involving hexaploid or octoploid triticale × hexaploid wheat, were characterized by cytological and biochemical markers. Cytological evidence from genomic in situ hybridization and C-banding indicated that DH lines M08 and V209 (2n= 42) each contained a pair of 1BL/1RS translocation chromosomes. DH220-14-2 (2n= 42) was also a translocated line with two pairs of chromosomes containing small fragments of rye. One of the translocation fragments carried the Sec-1R gene originating from the satellite region of 1RS; the origin of the other one remains unknown. DH696-3-4 (2n= 42) contained a 3D(3R) substitution. In M16 (2n= 44), three pairs of rye chromosomes, 3R, 4R and 6R, were present, 4R as an addition and 3D(3R) and 6D(6R) as substitutions. Biochemical, isozyme and storage protein markers confirmed the cytological conclusions. The advantages of transferring alien chromosomes or chromosome fragments into wheat and creating alien aneuploid lines by anther culture of hybrid F¹s are discussed.     

Chromosomal regions associated with green plant regeneration in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) anther culture

Genetic capacity for green plant regeneration in anther culture were mapped in a population comprising 50 doubled haploid lines from a cross between two wheat varieties ‘Ciano’ and ‘Walter’ with widely different capacity for green plant regeneration. Bulked segregant analysis with AFLP markers and composite interval mapping detected four QTLs for green plant percentage on chromosomes 2AL (QGpp.kvl-2A), 2BL (QGpp.kvl-2B.1 and QGpp.kvl-2B.2) and 5BL (QGpp.kvl-5B).The three QTLs detected on chromosome 2AL and 2BL all derived their alleles favouring green plant formation from the responsive parent ‘Ciano’.The remaining QTL on chromosome 5BL had the allele favouring green plants from the low responding parent ‘Walter’. In a multiple regression analysis the four QTLs could explain a total of 80% of the genotypic variation for green plant percentage. None of the chromosomal regions with QTLs for green plant percentage showed significant influence on either embryo formation or regeneration frequencies from the anther culture. The three major QTLs located on group two chromosomes were fixed in a second DH population derived from two parents ‘Ciano’ and ‘Benoist’,both with high capacity to produce green plants. A QTL explaining31.5% of the genetic variation for green plant formation were detected on chromosome 5BL in this cross as well. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Segregation for isozymes and HMW glutenins in a doubled-haploid cross of winter wheat carrying 1BL.1RS and 5DL.5RS translocations from rye

The doubled haploid (DH) wheat line ‘dh 5841’ carrying two translocations from rye, 5DL.5RS and 1BL.1RS, has been crossed to the subline of wheat cultivar ‘Amadeus 7143’ with a 1BL.1RS translocation. The resulting F₁ hybrid IJ 98 with a heterozygous 5DL.5DS‐5DL.5RS chromosome pair has been used to produce doubled haploids. A total of 57 DH lines were obtained from plantlets regenerated in anther culture after successful colchicine treatment and seed set. These lines were identified regarding the constitution of chromosome 5D (5DL.5DS or 5DL.5RS) by means of isoenzyme marker analysis. Thirty DH lines possessed the 5DL.5DS chromosome, while the remaining 27 lines carried the 5DL.5RS translocation. For some of these lines, the 5DL.5RS chromosome was cytologically confirmed by C‐banding. Furthermore, the DH lines were evaluated for their high molecular weight glutenin subunit composition. All possible combinations for the four independent loci —Skdh, Glu‐Al, Glu‐B1 and Glu‐D1— were detected in only 57 DH lines and no segregation distortion was observed.     

Comparison of fertility between the F1, F2 and anther derived lines in the crosses of indica/japonica and japonica/indica in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Summary Response of anthers in in vitro culture was examined in the indica-japonica hybrids of rice (Oryza sativa L.). Significant genotypic differences were observed for callus induction and regeneration among the different interracial hybrids of indica-japonica races. Induction frequency of haploids ranged from 57.7 to 72.9 per cent and doubled haploid androgenic lines ranged from 27.1 to 42.3 per cent in the anther culture of the different hybrids. The indica-japonica hybrids recorded partial pollen grain and spikelet fertility in F1 (29.9 to 41.5% and 19.4 to 48.7% respectively) as well as in F2 (42.7 to 50.6% and 37.1 to 54.4% respectively). In contrast, the androgenic doubled haploid lines recorded significant increase and the pollen grain and spikelet fertility was 76.3 and 78.6 per cent respecitively. The results suggested that the sterility barriers for realising genetic recombinants and fixation of fertile homozygous lines in indica-japonica hybridization programme could be overcome through F1 anther culture technique.Abbreviations BAP Benzyl Amino Purine - 2,4-D 2,4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid - MS Murashige & Skoog medium - IAA Indole Acetic Acid     

The derivation of compensating translocations involving homoeologous group 3 chromosomes of wheat and rye

Summary The Sr27 translocation in WRT238 was found to consist of chromosome arms 3RS of rye and 3AS of common wheat. An attempt was made to purposely produce compensating translocations having 3RS and a wheat homoeologous group 3L arm. To achieve this, plants, double monosomic for 3R and a wheat homoeologous group 3 chromosome, were irradiated (7.5 Gy gamma rays) or left untreated before being used to pollinate stem rust susceptible testers. Segregation for stem rust resistance was studied to identify F₂ families with Sr27-carrying translocated chromosomes, these were confirmed by means of C-banding. Compensating translocations 3RS3AL and 3RS3BL) were obtained readily and at similar frequencies from untreated and irradiated plants (respectively, 7.2% and 9.3%). Both translocation types have impaired transmission and segregate approximately 3: 2 (present: absent) in the F₂.     

The effect of colchicine on triticale anther-derived plants: Microspore pre-treatment and haploid-plant treatment using a hydroponic recovery system

In cereals, chromosome doubling of microspore-derived haploid plants is a critical step in producing doubled haploid plants. This investigation was undertaken to study the effect of incorporation of colchicine in the induction medium for anther culture, and the effect of colchicine on anther culture-derived plants of triticale grown under controlled greenhouse conditions. In the latter case, chromosome doubling of adult sterile plants derived from anther culture of fourteen triticale populations was attempted, where androgenetic plants with non-dehiscent anthers were cloned and subjected to the colchicine treatment, and then grown with the aid of hydroponics. The hydroponic system provided optimal conditions for recovery of the affected haploids from the toxic effects of colchicine treatment and all colchicine-treated plants survived. A topcross-F₁ (TC₁F₁) population with timopheevii cytoplasm produced the highest percentage of plants with seed-set either due to chromosome doubling by colchicine (98%) or spontaneous doubling of chromosome number (15%). Colchicine-treated anthers performed inferior than control in both induction and regeneration phases. One of the key observation of this study was the reversal from reproductive stage back to the vegetative stage which in turn enabled further cloning of haploid plants under hydroponic conditions once they were identified as sterile. The one hundred percent survival rate of in vitro-derived plants, 100% survival rate of colchicine treated haploid plants and the high chromosome doubling success rate (X = 82.3) observed in this study imply that a temperature-controlled greenhouse with an hydroponic system provides an efficient environment for inducing chromosome doubling of haploid plants in cereals. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.