Anther culture performance in selected high yielding indica (of Sri Lanka) and japonica rice varieties and their inter sub-specific hybrids

Abstract: The ability to improve anther culture response of some high yielding commercially grown indica rice varieties by crossing them with a high anther culture responding japonica rice variety was studied. Performance of japonica rice variety Hu lo tao, indica rice varieties Bg 90-2, Bg 379-2, Bg 94-1 and their F1 hybrids and F2 plants were investigated for callus induction and plant regeneration. Panicles were stored at 8 0C for 14 days as the cold pre-treatment and anthers were cultured in Chu's N6 medium with 5% (w/v) sucrose, 2.0 mg L-1 2,4 - dichloro phenoxy acetic acid (2,4 D) and 0.5 mg L-1 Kinetin. The cultures were kept in the dark at 28 + 2 oC for callus induction. Induced calli of 1-2 mm diameter were transferred to half strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2.0 mg L-1 Kinetin and 0.5 mg L-1 naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). Of the parental varieties, Hu lo tao is more responsive to anther culture. F2 plants, compared to F1 hybrids and parental rice varieties, had greater callus induction frequencies and plant regeneration. Calli from F1 hybrids and F2 plants of Bg 90-2 ×Hu lo tao showed the highest green plant regeneration (63.3% and 69.7% respectively). The regeneration of F1hybrids and F2 plants were higher than in the parents. According to the

results, it is possible to improve the anther culture performance of F1 hybrids and F2 plants by crossing high yielding indica rice varieties with high anther culture responding japonica varieties.

Keywords: Anther culture, callus induction, indica, japonica, plant regeneration, rice.

Doi: 10.4038/jnsfsr.v39i2.3175

J.Natn.Sci.Foundation Sri Lanka 2011 39 (2): 149-154