Genotype Effect as One of the Affecting Factors on The Success of Anther Culture in Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)

Abstract

Anther culture technique is one of the commonly used method in order to obtain haploid plants in eggplant. It is known that androgenic response in eggplant is variable and one of the most important factors determining success is the genotype effect. Low or insufficient embryogenic response limits the use of double haploid technology in breeding programs. Therefore, determining the embryogenic responses of genotypes is a step for the use of this technology in breeding studies. In this study, 61 eggplant genotypes at various breeding stages (F1, F2, and F3) in the gene pool of United Genetics Vegetable Seeds Company (Mustafakemalpaşa, Bursa, Turkey) were evaluated in terms of androgenic responses. Significant differences were determined among eggplant genotypes in terms about embryo induction and conversion rates of embryos to full plantlets. In the study, responsiveness to anther culture based on genotype ranged from 0.0%-21.58%. The conversion rate of induced embryos to plants varied between 0.0% and 100%.