Enhancement by Cold Treatment of Pollen Embryoid Development in Petunia hybrida

Summary The effect of cold treatment was studied on the induction of pollen embryoids in Petunia hybrida . Anthers containing uninucleate pollen grains were kept at 6°C for 48 hrs and then cultured on NITSCH'S medium supplemented with 10 -6 M kinetin or 15 % coconut milk. In the kinetin containing medium the percentage of anthers producing embryoids was more than double, compared to the anthers inoculated in the same medium but without cold treatment. In the coconut milk medium, anthers often callused but cold treatment was found to suppress callusing and to lead large numbers of pollen grains directly towards the path of embryoid development.