Control of Androgenesis-Technologies for Accelerating Wheat Breeding

Research will be conducted to refine methods for control of microspore development in wheat anthers toward increasing the proportion of microspores at stages most responsive to androgenesis induction. In Phase I, prior results indicating the existence of a signal (for androgenesis) control system response of wheat microspores will be extended, to refine and optimize treatments for increasing the yields of embryoids and green plants from anther cultures, while improving procedures for isolation and culture of microspores. Candidate signal compounds have been identified. Genotype differences in wheats for responsiveness to the induction signal will be studies. Methods will be developed also to isolate microspores cultured different periods after induction. Research aims to provide the foundation for in depth Phase II investigations into the biochemical genetic mechanism(s) controlling the switching of microspore development from its programmed pathway toward pollen to a developmental pathway leading to the formation of a pseudoembryo (embryoid) regenerable into a plant via the process of androgenesis.