Attempts to regeneration of oat (Avena sativa L.) plants via androgenesis: Influence of pre-treatment and media composition

The generation of haploid plants and doubled haploid lines through the in vitro anther culture is an important biotechnological tool in breeding programs; however, due to the low efficiency of oat (Avena sativa L.) anther cultures, additional research is required to meet crop breeding advancement. In this study, twelve genotypes of oat (Avena sativa L.) were studied to differentiate the androgenesis competence of anthers. The capacity of anthers and microspores for embryogenesis under the influence of a cooling period (1, 2, or 3 weeks) at 4 °C of panicles and heat shock at 32 °C of anthers were tested. The statistical differences between the length of the cooling period and anther viability for all genotypes were observed. Anthers cultured for five days at 32 °C showed a decrease in viability compared to those not subjected to heat shock. Callus induction and embryo-like structure development were observed in seven genotypes out of the twelve examined. The largest number of calluses were obtained from genotype STH 65488 × Chimene. Among the three types of media tested, the most efficient was W14-1, on which anthers produced 12 calluses and 4 embryo-like structures, while on W14-2 and C17 media, anthers produced three calluses and two or one embryo-like structure, respectively. Haploid plants were regenerated from four genotypes: Flämingsprofi × STH 238, STH 238 × Matilda, STH 65488 × Chimene, and Sławko × Kasztan, and of the seven haploid plants, only two doubled haploids were obtained.