Low efficiencies of embryoid induction and green plant regeneration have limited the application of anther culture in breeding programs. However, this study was conducted to determine the inheritance of ability to embryoid induction and subsequently plant regeneration in Egyptian wheat anther culture. Eleven genotypes derived from a 3 x 2 line x tester mating system of five wheat cultivars adapted to Egyptian conditions were evaluated over two different media for their responding anthers, embryoid induction, green plant, albino plant and total plant regeneration ability.
Highly significant difference among genotypes and genotypes x medium interaction were observed for all studied traits. Most of genotypes gave a better response to anther culture on P2-induction medium than on MN6 induction medium. Giza 164 cultivar was, generally, the best one for responding anthers and regeneration ability, especially in the ratio of green plants. Also, it showed higher general combining ability effect for the ratio of anther response, embryoid induction and green plant regeneration. Similar modes of inheritance were observed for these traits, combining ability analysis demonstrated the predominance of dominance gene effects in the genetic control of studied traits. Therefore, most of crosses exhibited desirable significant heterosis for the ratio of anther response and regeneration ability, especially when the averages of the hybrids were compared to their mid-parents values.
In general, the present results confirm the fact of the dominating effects of genetic factors in the expression of anther response and plant regeneration ability. Thus the transfer of anther culture responsiveness to non-responsive breeding materials appear easier than testing numerous culture conditions when there is a possibility that each genotype might require its own specific medium.