Plant regeneration from embryogenic cell suspensions derived from anther cultures of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.).

We have established embryogenic cell suspension cultures of barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cultivars Igri, Gimpel, Princesse, and Baronesse) from anther-derived embryogenic callus. Suspension cultures of cultivars Igri and Gimpel were regenerable. The most successful cultivar was Igri, from which a number of independent cell lines producing plantlets were established. Plants could be transferred to soil; up to now, 50% of more than 200 regenerated plants were morphologically normal and fertile. The relative frequency of sterile plants increased as suspensions aged. Suspensions older than 1 year produced embryogenic callus but only albino plantlets could be regenerated.