Anther culture of a 2n pollen producing clone of Solanum phureja Juz. &Buk.

Abstract
In a series of experiments, a total of 95 plants were regenerated from culture of 1416 anthers of a single genotype (PP5) of Solanum phureja that expressed a variable frequency of 2n pollen by the genetic equivalent of first division restitution. The regenerated plants included 29 monoploids (2n = x = 12), 58 diploids (2n = 2x = 24) and 8 tetraploids (2n = 4x = 48). Monoploids carrying the potential for 2n pollen formation are central to the development of a breeding scheme to construct highly heterozygous diplandroids. Segregation of tuber flesh color and tuber protein bands revealed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in first and second generation anther-derived diploid plants provided evidence for both embryogenesis of 2n pollen as well as doubling of monoploid genomes as sources of anther-derived diploids. Because of variation for the same genetic markers in anther-derived tetraploids, sources other than embryogenesis of doubly restituted (4n) pollen grains were implied. An enhanced response to anther culture was noted in some anther-derived dihaploids.