ANTHER CULTURE OF GARDEN CHRYSANTHEMUM

The aim of this study was the production of haploid garden chrysanthemum plants for a breeding program by using anther culture. Five garden chrysanthemum cultivars were used as anther donor plants. The effects of this genotype and the addi-tion of different growth regulators in MS medium were analyzed. Plants regenerated via anther culture were observed in morphology, cell physiology and cytogenetic. A significant difference in the anther callusing and regeneration rate was found among the cultivars. The most effective induction medium was basal MS plus 2.0 mg/L of BA + 1.0 mg/L of 2,4-D + 9% W/V sucrose, while the best differentiation medium was MS basal medium plus 2.0 mg/L of BA + 0.1 mg/L of NAA + 2%W/V sucrose. Haploid (n=3x=27) plants were obtained; they appeared similar in appearance to diploid ones; however, they were somewhat smaller than their diploid counterpart. Moreover, the chloroplast number in stomata guard cells of haploid was 12, half of the diploids.