The effect of colchicine treatment on microspore division and microspore-derived embryo differentiation in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) anther culture

Summary The relationship between division symmetry andin vitro microspore embryo genesis was studied using two winter wheat varieties of high embryogenic capacity. Anther cultures were treated with colchicine added to the induction media at concentrations of 0.01%, 0.02% and 0.04%. As a result of the colchicine treatment, the rate of symmetrical divisions increased significantly which was followed by a significant increase in the microspore-derived embryo frequency. The effect of colchicine was not dependent on the concentrations used. On the basis of this it can be supposed that there is a clear relationship between symmetric divisions and microspore-derived embryo differentiation.