Androgenic response of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) varieties and lines – sources of high grain protein content

Abstract

Aim. Protein content is known to be one of the most important characters of grain quality. Investigation was aimed to determine the capability to haploid production in anther culture in vitro of spring barley accessions which are the sources of high protein content in grain. Methods. Infrared spectroscopy was used for evaluation of variability of barley genotypes in protein content. Anthers isolated from cold-pretreated spikes were cultivated on agar solidified nutrient medium containing N6 macro-and MS micronutrients, physiologically active substances and maltose (9.0 %). Results. Three years testing showed that mean grain protein contents in six spring barley accessions varied from 12.6 to 19.1 %. Commercial variety Yavir, accessions IR06605 and DD-21 from germplasm collection of the National Plant Gene Pool of Ukraine were selected as genotypes with a stable expression of this char-acter. Response to androgenesis in vitro varied from 6.9 to 45.9 % of morphogenic anthers and from 0.64 до 14.7 green plants per 100 cultivated anthers in dependence of genotype and donor plant growth conditions. Conclusions. Because of association between high protein content in grains and a relatively high androgenic response, varieties Velikan and Yavir were considered to be the most valuable ones for use in spring barley breeding for improvement of protein content via anther culture in vitro.