a. Higher percent of callus-initiation and regeneration: Since the spring of this year over 4500 maize anthers were cultured in vitro on medium Zheng-14. The anthers were of maize Dan-Sun 91 which is a hybrid from Kirin province of the People's Republic of China. It was very encouraging to note that approximately 18.0 percent of these anthers responded favorably by growing into callus or embryoid about four weeks after inoculation. It is better than any previously reported results. It is an improvement.

After the calli had been transferred into regeneration medium, over 50 percent of them grew into certain form of plantlets. Now more than 200 healthy pollen-plants have been obtained. Many of them survived transplantation in the greenhouse. Without any doubt, they provide a new source of material for cytogenetic research.

b. Establishment of maize anther callus lines: In addition to Dan-Sun 91, maize varieties King Hwang 13, Stock 6, King Hwang 9, Chuen-Dan, Kwei-Dan, etc. were also employed for anther culture. Calli were obtained from anthers of most of them. Through examination and tests six haploid callus lines were established. They continued to grow on the original basal medium (Zheng-14), if they were transferred to newly prepared medium with a frequency of every four to six weeks. If it is needed, pollen-plants can be obtained by transferring these calli into regeneration medium.

Y. C. Ting, Wan-zhen Zheng and Margaret Yu

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