Cytogenetic characteristics of wheat plants regenerated from anther calli of 'Centurk'

Plants were recovered from 10 different calli derived through anther culture of Triticum aestivum L. em Thell (cv. 'Centurk'). Chromosome counts and estimates of ploidy level were made on cells from roots of these developing plants. Plants with polyhaploid cells were regenerated from all calli indicating that they were of microspore origin. Three populations of plants were recognized: first, those that were polyhaploid and euploid; second, those that were almost totally polyhaploid but aneuploid; and third, those plants which were largely hexaploid with some cells reflecting spontaneous chromosome doubling. Aneuploid cells with corresponding polyhaploid and hexaploid chromosome numbers in root-tip cells among plants regenerated from a number of calli were taken to indicate that these cells were doubled haploids and not hexaploid cells of the anther wall. Mixoploid plants were regenerated from secondary calli in which chromosome doubling was known to have been induced at the callus stage. The presence of individual mixoploid root tips in these plants was assumed to indicate that individual organs of a plant may arise from several cells of a callus.