Genotypic differences in the in vitro formation of embryoids from rice pollen

Abstract

Twenty varieties of rice were assessed for the ability of their pollen to give rise to ombryoids and haploid plantlets in anther culture. There were wide differences in response between the varieties, a primitive cultivar from Assam being the most responsive. Only anthers containing uninucleate microspores showed differentiation of pollen embryoids. It appeared that during the initial stages of development the embryoids were attached to the wall of the anthors by a suspensor-like attachment. Genotypic differences, besides several other factors, have a definite role in shifting the normal course of development of the pollen.