Studies on the Anther Culture of Horticultural Crops

I. Callus Formation from the Anthers of Asparagus

Abstract

Effects of growth regulators, sugars, light and pH on callus formation from anthers of Asparagus officinalis L. were investigated using Murashige & Skoog′s medium to which 0.6% agar was added. The following results were obtained:
1) For cv. ‘Mary Washington 500 (MW 500)’, the optimal concentrations of growth regulators were 1.0mg BA/l and 5.0mg NAA/l, whereas whereas for cv. ‘Zuiyo’ and ‘Grüne Krone’, they were 0.5 to 1.0mg BA/l and 3.0mg NAA/l. The highest percentages of anthers producing callus were 72, 90, and 86 for ‘MW 500’, ‘Zuiyo’ and ‘Grüne Krone’, respectively. Callus formation was better with NAA than 2, 4-D.
2) Of various sugars and their concentrations tested, the highest callus induction and growth were obtained on the media containing 2% sucrose or glucose. Fructose was less effective than the other two sugars and sorbitol was not effective at all on callus formation.
3) Anthers of ‘Zuiyo’ developed callus whether they were grown under continuous artificial light (4, 000lx, white fluorescent lamps), 16-hr photoperiod, or under continuous darkness. However, the percentages of anthers which produced callus were inversely proportional to the length of light exposure. Anthers of cv. ‘Grüne Krone’ cultured under 16-hr light at 10, 000, 1, 500, and 200lx, gave the highest percentage of callus formation under the minimum light intensity.
4) Callus was obtained with anthers at all pH levels between 3.5 and 7.5, but 5.5 produced the highest percentage.