Effects of free and chelated iron on in vitro androgenesis in barley and wheat

A suitable form of iron supplement in the induction medium was found to be important for further development of induced pollen embryos in barley and wheat cultivars (genotypes), especially those providing few green plants via in vitro androgenesis. Genotypes able to regenerate many green plants were less susceptible to the lack of iron in induction medium. Although Fe-EDTA was found to be a suitable form of iron in the induction medium, androgenesis was also induced on media containing non-chelated iron (Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions). EDTA alone without iron inhibited the androgenic response even in the wheat cv. Florida, a model cultivar for androgenesis in wheat. In all barley cultivars under study including cv. Igri, a model cultivar for androgenesis in barley, EDTA alone caused an almost total suppression of androgenesis.