Abstract

Anthers of rice (Oryza sativa L., 2n=24) heterozygous for the waxy gene (wx+/wx) were cultured on medium supplemented with 2,4-D and with NAA and kinetin. Histological observation of the anthers lus cultured revealed that only the microspords underwent divisions leading to callus formation; the somatic tissues degenerated or remained quiescent. Upon transfere of callus to the differentiation media, plants with ploidy levels ranging from haploid to tetraploid were regenrated. Staining pollen gtains with I2-KI showed that all the diploid and tetraploid plants were homozygous. Furthermore, in both ploidy levels the ratio of waxy to nonwaxy fits the expected 1:1 sebregation ratio. Thus histological and genetic evidence inducates that all anther-devived plants obtained in this study are of microspore orign.