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.