Effect of pre-regeneration colchicine treatments on the efficiency of wheat x maize system of haploid production in wheat

Abstract

Crossing wheat with maize has emerged as the system of choice for wheat haploid production. Chromosome doubling constitutes an important step in this system. Most of the research on chromosome doubling methodology in wheat has been conducted in the context of interspecific hybrids to generate self-fertile amphiploids. The standard target for these treatments has been the uprooted hybrid seedlings at 2-3-tiller stage. In case of wheat x maize crosses conducted in the field, regenerated haploid plants become available at a time when environmental conditions are not conducive for growing wheat. This led us to investigate some alternative chromosome doubling strategies.