Effect of selected stress factors on androgenesis of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The effect of dehydration alone or in combination with either colchicine or proline on anthers and isolated microspore cultures of the spring wheat genotype DH83Z118.32 was studied. Dehydration improved embryogenesis and regeneration of plantlets in anther and isolated microspore cultures. In anther culture, colchicine alone reduced embryogenesis but improved plant regeneration. Combining dehydration with colchicine treatment, compared to colchicine alone, resulted in a significant inhibition of embryogenesis and plantlet regeneration in anther culture. L-proline treatment also enhanced plant regeneration by 7.5%; however, in combination with dehydration, there was a significant improvement in both embryogenesis and plant regeneration. The combined treatment of dehydration for 1 hour and proline at 100 mg l^-1 significantly improved embryo and plantlet production by 83.1 and 16.5%, respectively. Proline-dehydration treatment may have enhanced embryogenesis and plant regeneration by maintaining physiological cell tugor and/or membrane integrity of the cultured gametophytic cells.