Identification of a wheat (Triticum aestivum) cell line lacking a specific divalent cation requirement

A wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cell line, derived from anther culture of an F1 hybrid, has exogenous Ca(2+), to that of calcium-dependent cells grown on complete medium. The calcium-independent cell line has been grown in the absence of Ca(2+) for more than 1.5 years. The cell line grew at a rate similar to that on complete medium for up to 12 weeks, if supplied with any one of the divalent cations, Ca(2+), Mg(2+), Mn(2+), Zn(2+), Cu(2+) or Co(2+), but declined and appeared necrotic when all 6 of these were removed from the medium. The calcium-independence trait, while identified in tissue culture, was also observed in germinated immature embryos of the same hybrid and one of its parental inbred lines.