In vitro induction of androgenic haploids in Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.).

The influence of culture medium on induction of androgenic calli was examined with five different basal media. MS medium was the most responsive in inducing callus. Differences in induction of calli among ten genotypes revealed that the most responsive genotype was a local cultivar, Mangira, with 48.6% anthers initiating callus formation. The influence of temperature pre-treatment (5°±1°C) for varying periods (0 to 15 days) on immature capitula prior to inoculation of anthers on the medium revealed that the percentage of anthers inducing callus increased till 3-5 days of pre-treatment. The effect of physiological conditions of anther donor plants grown in the field and in green houses on induction and re-differentiation have shown that the field grown anther donor plants exhibited optimum response. Shoot regeneration was observed on MS supplemented with BAP (2.0 mg/l) and NAA (0.5 mg/l) and rhizogenesis on MS (half-strength) medium, supplemented with NAA (0.1 mg/l) and 1% sucrose. Cytological studies of anther derived plants showed two ploidy levels, where the haploids were predominant (64%).