The Origin of Embryos and Plantlets from Cultured Anthers of Hybrid Grapevines

Abstract

Callus derived from cultured anthers of Gloryvine (Vitis vinifera L. x V. rupestris Scheele) contained both haploid (n=19) and diploid (2n=38) cells, but all the plantlets produced in vitro were diploid. The presence of haploid cells in callus derived from anthers was further indicated by the occurrence of nuclei with the 1C-DNA level. Haploid cells were not found in callus from internode explants. Multinucleate pollen grains were observed, but there was strong anatomical evidence that the anther-callus originated primarily from somatic cells of the anthers wall and the connective. There was considerable variation among anther-derived plants in leaf morphology. Progeny of selfed anther-derived plants exhibited segregation for leaf characters indicating heterozygosity and somatic origin. Isoenzyme patterns for indophenol oxidase, leucine amino peptidase and catechol oxidase in anther-derived plants and in the original genotype from which the cultures were established were indistinguishable.