Isolated microspore culture of Canadian 6× triticale cultivars

Isolated microspore culture was conducted on nine Canadian triticale cultivars (X Triticosecale Wittmack) using two induction media developed for wheat, with or without 100 g l−1 Ficoll. Significant interactions were observed for the number of embryos and calluses induced, green and albino plantlets regenerated and fertility of green plants. Ficoll was beneficial in both media to increase numbers of embryos and green plants for all cultivars. Overall, medium NPB99 supplemented with ficoll provided the most suitable condition for most cultivars. AC Alta performed slightly better on CHB3 supplemented with Ficoll. Only cv. Wapiti was not amenable to androgenesis. The cultivars AC Certa, AC Copia, AC Alta, Sandro, Ultima, Frank, Pronghorn and Banjo produced respectively, 10, 9, 6, 5, 4, 3, 3 and 1 green plants per Petri dish (35,000 microspores), on their optimum treatment. Twenty-two percent of total lines produced were fertile, and considered doubled haploids. The application of isolated microspore culture to triticale, opens new possibilities in breeding triticale, for the utilization of in vitro selection and genetic engineering.