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.