Factors Affecting Doubled Haploid Plant Production Via Maize Technique in Bread Wheat

The effect of two in planta factors (growth conditions, genotype) and two in vitro factors (time of embryo rescue, embryo rescue medium) on doubled haploid (DH) plant production in bread wheat via maize technique was investigated in nine F 1 hybrids produced after crossing four bread wheat cultivars. During the first year one group of F 1 plants was grown in a field and at the proper stage pollinated with maize pollen (sweet corn popu- lation). In parallel, a second group of F 1 plants was grown in a growth chamber and pollinated as in the former group. In the second growing season the experiment was repeated but only field-grown plants were used. All the produced haploid embryos were cultured in three different media and the resulting 146 haploid plants were subsequently treated with aqueous solution of colchicine. Finally, 86 doubled haploid plants were obtained. We noted that the growing conditions of the parental plants and the intervening time between day of pollination and day of embryo rescue influenced the percentage of haploid embryo production. Culture medium also influenced haploid and doubled haploid plant production. The two media (MS/2, B5) were found equally effective. Most of the haploid embryos originated from the Penios × Acheloos cross, whereas most of the doubled haploid plants were produced from the KVZ × Penios cross. Doubled haploid plants were produced from all crosses. Culture, doubled haploid, embryos, haploid, maize technique, Triticum aestivum L.