The proceeding of the 8'hISB:351-360(2001) In vitro Cross Breeding- In Vitro Flowering and Pollination in Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) Plants

Flower induction was examined from shoot segments of buckwheat seedlings in vitro. Cytokinin, especially kinetin at 0.1,tM, short day condition or high concentration of solidifying agent improved the flower induction from shoot segments in vitro, up to about 50 % of shoot segments. Membrane on bottle caps and high elN ratio in medium improved flower induction in vitro. In the improved conditions, flowers were induced from 100 % cultures in vitro in 8 weeks. In vitro flower sets were examined under microscope. Both long and short types of stigmas and normal set of flowers were observed. When pollens born in vitro were cultured on artificial medium, more than 70 % of the pollens germinated suggesting normal viability of in vitro pollens and suggesting possible artificial pollination in vitro. All the varieties examined flowered at similar flowering rates suggesting any variety of buckwheat produced flowers in vitro. Flower induction from buckwheat plants in vitro and possible cross breeding of plants in vitro are also discussed