In vitro pollen selection in Brassica napus L. for resistance to phytotoxic compounds from Alternaria brassicicola (Schw.) Wilts

Summary

Pollen samples from Brassica napus cvs ‘Arran’ and ‘Herkules’ were incubated for 1 h in a germination medium or in a medium to which 20 mg ml⁻¹ of a toxic extract from Alternaria brassicicola had been added. The pollen samples were then used to pollinate cv ‘Primor’. A number of the plants, obtained from pollinations using pollen incubated in the toxic extract, produced pollen with a significantly increased ability to germinate in medium containing 10 mg ml⁻¹ of the extract, evidence that some selection for resistance to the toxic compounds produced by A. brassicicola had occurred. The potential application of in vitro pollen selection and conditions necessary for its success are discussed.