Haploid and Diploid Callus from Cotton Anthers1

We have initiated and subcultured large quantities of callus tissue from the anthers of two species of cotton, Gossypium barbadense L. and G. hirsutum L. A liquid medium was developed and cell suspension cultures were generated from anther‐derived callus from G. hirsutum. Cytological examination was made only on anther callus from G. hirsutum and the preponderance of the tissue was diploid (2n=4x=52). Liquid suspension cultures from anther callus were also found to be primarily diploid. However, 13 cultures that grew more than four times faster than 527 diploid cultures had 83% haploid cells. Therefore, haploid tissue was produced in 2 to 3% of the anthers, and it grew obscurely within the diploid callus. The haploid tissue was identified and selected by its rapid growth rate in liquid culture.