Androgenesis in Anther Culture of Lithuanian Spring Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Cultivars

An anther culture method was used for the production of doubled haploids (DHs) in Lithuanian barley and potato cultivars that were directly regenerated from embryoids (Caredda´s method) were applied to determine androgenic potential according to the green regenerant yield and other morphogenetic factors. Green DH regenerants were obtained in 3 Lithuanian spring barley cultivars (´Aidas´, ´Alsa´, and ´Auksiniai´) out of 10 studied. The highest rate of embryoid formation was determined in cv. ´Auksiniai 3´, representing 580.0 embryoids per 100 responding anthers. The potato cultivar ´Nida´ was superior in terms of the rate of responding anthers (17.4%). The highest rate of embryoid formation was identified for the ´Aista´ potato cultivar (222.5 embryoids per 100 responding anthers). The regeneration potential of Lithuanian potato cultivars by direct microspore embryogenesis in the anther culture was evaluated in this experiment. Regenerants were obtained in 3 cultivars (´Goda´, ´Nida´, and ´Aista´) out of 5 studied. In the ´Aista´ cultivar, up to 74.5 regenerants per 100 responding anther developed from embryos.