Doubled-haploid broccoli production using anther culture: Effect of anther source and seed set characteristics of derived lines

Using anther culture to generate doubled-haploid (DH) homozygous lines for use as parents in F-1 hybrid crosses has become a common practice in breeding broccoli (Brassica oleracea L., Italica Group), During anther culture and subsequent embryogenesis and plant regeneration, polyploidization of microspore-derived embryos may not occur or it may occur accompanied by a doubling, tripling, quadrupling, octupling, or irregular polyploidization of the genome, Thus regenerants from the process can be haploids, diploids, triploids, tetraploids, octaploids, or aneuploids. The objectives of this research were to 1) conduct repeat cycles of broccoli anther culture using a group of F-1 hybrids as anther donors and develop populations of regenerants; 2) analyze resulting populations using DNA flow cytometry and determine the influence of F-1 source on frequency of different ploidy levels among regenerants; and 3) compare seed set in broccoli inbreds developed in a traditional selfing program compared to seed set in DH broccoli derived from anther culture, In two cycles (1994 and 1995) of anther culture, anther-derived populations of regenerants were developed using the F-1 hybrids 'Marathon', 'Everest', 'High Sierra', and 'Futura' as sources of anthers, In 1994, 'Everest', 'High Sierra', and 'Futura' yielded populations that included 2% to 7% haploids, 53% to 56% diploids, 32% to 38% tetraploids, and 5% to 6% other types. 'Marathon'-derived regenerants were 5% haploid, 78% diploid, 15% tetraploid, and 2% other, shelving significantly more diploids. In 1995, 'Marathon' regenerants again included significantly more diploids and fewer tetraploids than those derived from other F-1 sources, confirming that the genotype of the anther source affects the frequency of a particular ploidy level among regenerants derived from culture. In manual self-pollinations of 1994 regenerants, only diploids and rare tetraploids set seed., When plants that set no seed were discounted, seed production following manual self pollinations of 1995 regenerants was not significantly different from that of traditional inbreds derived from the same F-1 sources.