Genetic control of embryo formation in anther culture of diploid potatoes.

A diploid potato clone AH 78/8015.37a with androgenetic ability was crossed with a root-knot nematode resistant diploid clone 381320.23 which did not have this ability.Among 19 F1 progenies tested a wide range of continuous variability was found for androgenetic capability. Four F1 clones with different level of embryo formation capability were backcrossed to 381320.23 to produce 4 F1BC1 families to further clarify the genetic control of androgenetic capability.From the wide range of continuous variability for androgenetic ability observed, it can be inferred that this character is controlled by more than one major gene.The occurrence of plants with androgenetic ability derived from parents both lacking this character, indicated that the androgenetic ability is controlled by recessive genes or results from complementation of various factors singly present in the parents. The present results demonstrated that the androgenetic ability could be transferred through sexual crosses, making it possible to successfully apply anther culture to other useful genetic material lacking this ability.