Diallel analysis of barley anther culture response

Abstract

The genetics of barley microspore development in culture was examined by means of diallel analysis. The frequency of microspore derived green and albino plant production was shown to be under genetic control. This genotypic limitation to microspore development will limit the application of anther culture techniques to barley breeding programmes. However, significant additive genetic effects were detected for the characters measured and indicate that the frequency of green plant regeneration may be improved by the hybridization of suitable parents. Significant reciprocal differences were also detected and indicate that the direction of the cross is important in determining microspore development. An embryogenic route to green plantlet formation was observed in a number of genotypes in the diallel experiment. The implications of these findings for barley improvement and genetics are discussed.Key words: doubled haploids, barley, anther culture, microspore, embryoid.