Effect of Culture Media for Anther Culture of Indica Rice Varieties and Hybrids of Indica and Japonica

Pollen plants from anther culture in rice breeding allows selection of fine strains in early generations. Exploitation of anther culture technique in research is limited due to very low regeneration frequency of indica cultivars and the transfer of anther culture traits from japonica to indica varieties is important in improving these rice varieties. In this study the optimization of media requirements and culture conditions for high frequency callus induction and plant regeneration of several indica × japonica F1 hybrids were evaluated using improved anther culture media. Five indica rice varieties ( BG 90-2, BG 379-2, BG 94-1, Dahanala and Suduru samba) and two japonica varieties (Hu Lo Tao and Chuan 4) were selected and F1 hybrids were taken with all possible crosses between them. Panicles were cold pre treated at 5C for 7 days and anthers were cultured in agar solidified modified N6, B5 and Millers media. Calli were transferred to MS medium for plant regeneration. Best callus induction frequencies (0.8 – 29.4%) were obtained in N6 medium containing 5% (w/v) sucrose, than B5 (0.5 – 19.2%) and Millers (0.2 – 19.8%) media. The F1 hybrids were more responsive to anther culture than their parents. Highest callus induction frequency of 29.4% could observe in N6 medium for F1 hybrid Hu Lo Tao × BG 90-2. The green plant regeneration frequency of calli induced on N6 medium was higher than the other two media and the highest frequency of 41.0% was occurred in F1 hybrids of Hu Lo Tao × BG 90-2. Green plants were transferred to pots with 50 – 75% survival rate. Out of 99 plants survived, 28 plants had more than 5% spikelet fertility. Modified N6 medium had positive effect on anther culture performance and the F1 hybrid Hu Low Tao × Bg 90-2 had the best performance.