Gynogenesis in Beta vulgaris L.: From in vitro culture of unpollinated ovules to the production of doubled haploid plants in soil.

Our study concerns the different stages involved in the production of doubled haploid beet plants by in vitro gynogenesis. A histological study shows that the embryos obtained could come from the oosphere or the antipodals. Gynogenesis using male fertile plants gives nearly two haploid plants for 1000 ovules cultured: in this case, the problem is to avoid plating fertilized ovules. The gynogenetic plants obtained display an endopolyploidy phenomenon at the root meristem level while their shoot meristem remains haploid.Colchicine doubling during in vitro vegetative propagation of buds has been carried out successfully.