and Donor's Environment on Maize (Zea mays L.) Anther Culture Response

An enhanced frequency of embryoids was obtained when anthers of an F1 (M947 x M948) at mid-uninucleate microspore, were cold shocked at 8- 10_C for 14 days and heat-preincubated in dark at 27 ± 2_C for 14 days. Effects of genotype, genotype x media and genotype x environment interaction on response was apparent in this study. Embryoids appeared within three- nine weeks of culture on different media. Maximum number of embryoids were obtained when donors were grown in optimum field conditions. The growth of embryoids was very weak and slow when donors were grown in a partially shady garden. There was a small difference in response between 6N1 and YP media and most of the genotypes produced maximum number of embryoids on 0.1 mg/l TIBA supplementation media from both the environments. Maximum plantlet regeneration was obtainted on media supplemented with 1.0 mg/l Kn followed by 0.1 mg/l TIBA. Among 23 genotypes tested, six produced dark green plantlets when donors were grown in the optimum environment whereas two pale green plantlets were produced in the shady environment. Most of the plantlets had narrow and erect leaves