Chromosome doubling of haploids of common wheat with caffeine

Abstract

Treatment of dividing plant cells with caffeine inhibits their cytokinesis, thereby inducing the formation of binucleate cells that contain polyploid nuclei. This study was undertaken to determine whether caffeine treatments would induce chromosome doubling and seed set in haploids of common wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em. Thell.) through the further development of diploid nuclei. Ten sterile wheat haploid plants, obtained through the agency of corn (Zea mays L.) pollination, were multiplied by vegetative propagation (subdivision of well-tillered plants) to produce about 50 crowns per haploid. Washed and trimmed crowns were treated with 0.3, 1.0, 3.0, and 10.0 g∙L−1 caffeine for 3, 6, 12, and 24 h. While treatment with 0.3 g∙L−1 caffeine did not restore fertility, higher concentrations of caffeine resulted in pollen shedding and substantial seed set compared with untreated controls. Many combinations of caffeine concentration and duration produced comparable results; however, treatment with 3 g∙L−1 for 24 h was the most effective caffeine treatment on the basis of the number of seeds recovered, as well as the size and incidence of fertile sectors. Compared with a standard colchicine treatment (3-h immersion in 2 g∙L−1 colchicine dissolved in 0.5% dimethyl sulfoxide), all caffeine treatments produced fewer seeds, principally because colchicine-doubled sectors were often large, while caffeine-doubled sectors were numerous but generally small. In conclusion, caffeine produced useful numbers of seeds for all clones; gliadin banding patterns and chromosome counts indicated that genetic and cytogenetic stability of the doubling process were equal or superior for caffeine compared with colchicine.

Caffeine affects adventitious rooting and causes biochemical changes in the hypocotyl cuttings of mung bean (Phaseolus aureus Roxb.)

“…Though no specific studies in this regard has been conducted, yet available reports indicate that caffeine inhibits cell division and cell plate formation in the root tips of Coffea arabica (Friedman and Waller 1983a), Tradescantia spp. (Valster and Hepler 1997), Triticum aestivum (Thomas et al 1997) and Allium cepa (Gimenez-Abian et al 1998).…”

A cytogenetic method for stacking gene pairs in common wheat

“…Where necessary, additional plants were obtained from individuals of particular interest by sub-dividing their crowns (Thomas et al 1997). Fusion monosomics (2n=41=1iii+19ii) of common wheat (T. aestivum L.) were isolated from crosses between a double monosomic (2n=40=19ii+2i) and a disomic.…”

“…Inheritance of the same loci was also studied in doubled haploid populations obtained from ovules of the fusion monosomics by corn pollination (Thomas et al 1997). Particular microsatellites that were used are listed in the tables.…”

Generation of amphidiploids from hybrids of wheat and related species from the genera Aegilops, Secale, Thinopyrum, and Triticum as a source of genetic variation for wheat improvement

“…It may differ from the final official version of record. 5 doubling agent caffeine (Thomas et al 1997). Extracted from the coffee bean (Coffea arabica), its mode of action is different, as it inhibits plant cell cytokinesis after nuclear division, when binucleate cells are produced due to the lack of production of transverse cell walls.…”

“…Extracted from the coffee bean (Coffea arabica), its mode of action is different, as it inhibits plant cell cytokinesis after nuclear division, when binucleate cells are produced due to the lack of production of transverse cell walls. Caffeine produces fewer amphidiploid grains in doubled plants than colchicine but has clear advantages as it is generally harmless to humans and most interspecific F 1 hybrid plants survive the treatment (Thomas et al 1997).…”