Fiber development in preanthesis cotton ovules

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Abstract
A tissue culture method was developed to investigate the production of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. cv. Texas Marker‐1) fibers in vitro. Ovules were excised from 3, 5, 7 and 9 days preanthesis ovaries and placed on an agar‐solidified, modified Murashige and Skoog medium containing 2.3 μM kinetin and 0.45 μM–2,4–dichlo‐rophenoxyacetic acid or 2.3 μM kinetin and 10.7 μM naphthaleneacetic acid. Ovules formed fibers and callus tissue. Fibers formed in vitro were up to 10 mm long, 10–22 μ wide and the cell wall was 1–3 μM thick. Callus tissue cells were subcultured for over 25 weeks and their degree of elongation was monitored. The ability of ovule‐derived cells to direct expansion in a longitudinal direction diminished, while lateral expansion increased with time in culture.