cytological study on aluminium-treated wheat anther cultures resulting in plants with increased Al tolerance

The in vitro selection of microspores and microspore-derived structures under Al stress is one way to improve the Al tolerance of crops. In our study, cytological alterations caused by Al were examined in anther cultures of a commercial wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) variety 'Mv Pálma', and the efficiency of in vitro selection was demonstrated. Although the anther walls retarded the appearance of toxicity symptoms, cytological changes similar to those observed in root cells (inhibition of cell division, intense vacuolisation, occurrence of micronuclei and cell wall thickening) were detected in the microspores. The severity of Al toxicity and the efficiency of selection depended on the Al concentration and the mode of treatment. Single Al treatments (0.6 and especially 1.6 mM) allowed DH lines with increased Al tolerance to be selected. Repeated Al treatment severely inhibited the cell division of the microspores and it was lethal even at a concentration as low as 0.6 mM. The results show that microspore embryogenesis can be exploited for studying the cytological effect of Al and for increasing the Al tolerance of wheat.