Microspore embryogenesis: assignment of genes to embryo formation and green vs. albino plant production

Plant microspores can be reprogrammed from their normal pollen development to an embryogenic route in a process termed microspore embryogenesis or androgenesis. Stress treatment has a critical role in this process, inducing the dedifferentiation of microspores and conditioning the following androgenic response. In this study, we have used three barley doubled haploid lines with similar genetic background but different androgenic response. The Barley1 GeneChip was used for transcriptome comparison of these lines after mannitol stress treatment, allowing the identification of 213 differentially expressed genes. Most of these genes belong to the functional categories “cell rescue, defense, and virulence”; “metabolism”; “transcription”; and “transport”. These genes were grouped into clusters according to their expression profiles among lines. A principal component analysis allowed us to associate specific gene expression clusters to phenotypic variables. Genes associated with the ability of microspores to divide and form embryos were mainly involved in changes in the structure and function of membranes, efficient use of available energy sources, and cell fate. Genes related to stress response, transcription and translation regulation, and degradation of pollen-specific proteins were associated with green plant production, while expression of genes related to plastid development was associated with albino plant regeneration

Zinc sulphate improved microspore embryogenesis in barley

The original version is available at http://www.springerlink.com/content/l00327The effect of ZnSO4 concentration on barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) microspore embryogenesis was investigated using cultivars of different androgenetic response. Concentrations from 0 (control) to 600 μM in the stress pre-treatment medium alone or in combination with 30 (control) to 600 μM in the embryo induction medium were assayed in anther culture. Incorporation of Zn2+ in the pre-treatment medium itself did not affect microspore embryogenesis. The optimum concentration in the stress pre-treatment and induction media was 180 μM for cultivars (cvs.) Igri and Reinette, and 90 μM for cv. Hop. A significant increase of 30 and 300% in cv. Igri and Reinette, respectively, were produced with 180 μM ZnSO4 in both the number of embryos and green plants. In order to confirm the effect of Zn2+ on microspore embryogenesis this micronutrient was incorporated in the induction medium of isolated microspore cultures of cv. Igri. Concentrations of 90–300 μM ZnSO4 resulted in an increase of 40–53% in the number of embryos and green plants. All these results indicate that the beneficial effect of Zn2+ is exerted mainly during the culture phase, increasing the number of embryos, leading to an increased number of green plants, but it had no effect on percentage of regeneration or green plants.M. Soriano was a recipient of a FPI fellowship from the Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (MEC) of Spain. The research was supported by Projects AGL2002-04139-C02-02 and AGL2005-07195-C02-01 from Plan Nacional de Recursos y Tecnologías Agroalimentarias of Spain.Peer reviewe

Isolated microspore culture in barley

Isolated microspore culture (IMC) is the most efficient way to produce large numbers of doubled-haploid (DH) barley plants in a short time. Yet, while IMC is more cost-efficient and less labor-intensive than anther culture, it is technically more complex and requires more experienced personnel if it is to yield its full potential. In part, this is because of multiple and important interactions that exist between factors at its many different phases, including genotype effects as well. When every phase is fine-tuned, the protocol that is presented below yields a useful number of DHs with almost all genotypes and can allow the production of up to 300 DH plants from a single F1 plant in just a few months.