Embryoid and Callus Formation from Pollen Grains of Eggplant and Pepper by Anther Culture

Abstract

Effective methods for the production of haploid plants by culturing anthers of eggplant (Sola-num melongena L.) and pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) were studied. Anthers containing pollen grains at the uninucleate stage were plated on MS medium supplied with various concen-trations of 2, 4-D and kinetin and then exposed to high and low temperatures. Embryoids from pollen grain and adventitious shoots from calli were obtained, and they grew to plantlets upon transferring to a MS medium.
Results obtained for eggplant were as follows:
1. Anthers cultured on MS medium supplied with 0.1 mg•liter^-1 of both 2, 4-D and kine-tin and treated with 35°C for 24 hr formed calli and embryoids at the highest frequency, but low temperature treatment (5°C for 24 or 48 hr) was ineffective or rather inhibitory.
2. Regeneration of embryoid and adventitious buds from calli was induced by transferring calli to MS medium without phytohormones or with 1 mg•liter^-1 kinetin plus 0 or 0.05 mg•liter^-1 NAA.
3. Plantlets on MS media supplied with 0.8% agar and 58% sucrose grew normally and vigorously.
Results for pepper were as follows:
4. Calli were formed at high frequency on MS media supplied with 0.2 mg•liter^-1 2, 4-D plus 0.1 mg•liter^-1 kinetin or 0.1 mg•liter^-1 both of 2, 4-D and kinetin. On the other hand, embryoids were directly formed at high frequency on MS media supplied with 0.02 mg•liter^-1 kinetin or 0.004 mg•liter^-1 2, 4-D plus 0.1 mg•liter^-1 kinetin.