Efficient Yield of Embryoids by Culture of Isolated Microspores of Different Brassicaceae Species

Microspore culture of rapeseed (Brassica napus) is well established in practical plant breeding as a potent method to produce homozygous plants. Except for B. carinata the method has not yet been applied to other Brassicaceae species. The present study describes successful microspore culture of B. campestris, B. nigra, B. oleracea and Raphanus sativus, overcoming the break down of such microspore cultures possibly arising from the release and accumulation of toxic substances into the medium. The modified procedure is as follows: exchange of the incubation medium after one day of culture, addition of activated charcoal to the medium and aerating the three day old microspore culture by agitating the petri dishes on a specially constructed shaker.