Improved embryoid induction and green shoot regeneration from wheat anthers cultured in medium with maltose

Anthers from spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes, including six F1 hybrids, were cultured in a modified liquid N6 medium containing either sucrose or maltose. In every case, use of maltose resulted in greater microspore callus induction and green shoot regeneration than culture in sucrose-containing medium. Induction in maltose medium also allowed green shoots to be recovered from crosses that showed only a poor response in other media and from two genotypes that did not respond to modified N6 medium with sucrose. Replacement of sucrose with maltose generally resulted in microspores having a more embryogenic mode of development in which distinct embryoids often formed. The most responsive genotype produced over 200 green shoots/100 anthers when cultured in medium with maltose.