Abstract
Production of doubled haploids (DHs) through androgenesis induction is an important biotechnological tool for plant breeding. In some species, DHs are efficiently obtained through embryogenesis from isolated microspore cultures. In eggplant, however, this process is still at its infancy, despite the economic relevance of this important agricultural crop. To date, only two studies have focused previously on this process, suggesting that in eggplant microspore cultures, the only morphogenic response is callus formation. Given the notable lack of studies on eggplant microspore cultures, in this work we explored this process with different experimental approaches. We studied the response of different cultivars and characterized the development of microspores induced to divide and proliferate. We demonstrated that microspore-derived embryos (MDEs) can be produced in eggplant; however, MDEs stopped at the globular stage, to turn into euploid and principally mixoploid calli. From these calli, 60 % of DH plants could be regenerated. In order to promote microspore induction we evaluated the effect of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and mannitol. PEG, but not mannitol, significantly increased induction of microspore embryogenesis. We also tested the ability of eight different media compositions to promote efficient plant regeneration from calli. In order to test it in a genotype-independent manner, we previously developed a method to generate clonal callus populations derived from single microspore-derived calli. Together, the results presented hereby constitute an efficient way to produce eggplant DHs through microspore culture. In addition, they contribute significant insights into the knowledge of the particularities of androgenesis induction in this species. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
