title: Preliminary results on embryo rescue for circumventing hybridization barriers in Asparagus.
abstract: Garden asparagus, Asparagus officinalis, is reproductively isolated from a related ornamental species with potential breeding value, Asparagus densiflorus cv. Sprengeri, by pre- and post-zygotic barriers. The latter barrier operates at the endosperm level five days after pollination in A. officinalis x A. densiflorus crosses. To try to circumvent this barrier, in vitro embryo rescue using ovule and ovary cultures was tested. Controlled interspecific crosses were made and 2,032 ovules and 826 ovaries were cultured three days after pollination under various culture media and incubation conditions. Ovaries cultured for 60 days became red (similar to mature fruits), but seed formation was incomplete. Transfer of ovules to other media was necessary to promote embryo development. The interspecific embryos increased their length from 35 microns at the initiation of culture to 1,900 microns after 120 days of culture, but seedlings were not obtained. Histological studies revealed differentiation of protoderm only. The possible causes of the failure of the embryos to complete differentiation and morphogenesis are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Genética, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Buenos Aires, Argentina. omarcellan@balcarce.inta.gov.ar
authors.forename: O N
authors.initials: ON
authors.lastname: Marcellán
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Camadro
mesh_terms: D015084:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D000225:Adenine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002678:Chimera / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D003470:Culture Media; D018525:Germination / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005875:Gibberellins / Q000494:pharmacology; D007541:Isopentenyladenosine; D019668:Liliaceae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D009280:Naphthaleneacetic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D059828:Plant Cells; D063245:Plant Development; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000494:pharmacology; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism; D012639:Seeds / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D014815:Vitamins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D005875:Gibberellins; D009280:Naphthaleneacetic Acids; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D014815:Vitamins; C001478:N(6)-(delta(2)-isopentenyl)adenine; D015084:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid; D007541:Isopentenyladenosine; C007842:gibberellic acid; D000225:Adenine