INVITRO RESPONSE OF HORDEUM-VULGARE-L ANTHERS CULTURED FROM PLANTS GROWN UNDER DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS

The production of callus from cultured barley anthers (cultivars Dissa and Mutina) was affected by the environmental conditions under which the donor plants were grown. Donor plants grown out-of-doors during spring and summer exhibited a higher frequency of anther callus production (as well as the subsequent regeneration of plants from these calluses) than plants grown during autumn and winter in the greenhouse. Anthers taken from donor plants grown under high light intensity (18-20,000lx) produced callus at a much higher frequency than anthers from donor plants grown under low light intensity (8-10,000lx). Temperatures during the growth of the donor plants also influenced anther callus production, with the highest rate of callus production achieved when the donor plants were grown at a constant temperature of 12.degree. C in the day and 5.degree. C at night.