New approach to pollen culture

Abstract

RESEARCH on pollen and anther culture is important for genetic and mutation studies, and has many potential applications in plant breeding and crop improvement. In our experience, the technique of pollen culture developed by Nitsch and co-workers^1,2, though successful with a wide range of species³, is much more difficult than anther culture and involves procedures which are unreliable and inefficient. Furthermore, plant yields are generally lower than when anther culture is used. We describe here an alternative approach which retains the simplicity and reliability of anther culture while eliminating the need for either mechanical disruption^1,2 or surgical manipulation⁴ of anthers.