Production of doubled haploid plants of carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) by pseudofertilized ovule culture

Doubled haploids of carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) were obtained by pseudofertilized ovule culture. Emasculated ̄ower buds of carnation were pollinated with pollen inactivated by Xray irradiation. After 2±3 weeks, the ovaries were explanted and were cultured on solid MS medium containing 2 mM NAA, 2 mM BAP and 6% sucrose. Regenerated plants(R0) were morphologically different from the mother plants, indicating that they did not originate from their somatic cells. Root tip cells of the R0 plants were chimeric for the chromosome number; both 2n ˆ 30 cells and 2n ˆ 15 cells were observed in root tips. The R0 plants were fertile and selfed seeds (R1) were obtained. The R1 plants of each R0 plant were morphologically uniform and were identical to their respective R0 plants. From these results we conclude that the R0 plants were doubled haploids. # 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.