Somatic embryogenesis from grapevine anthers: identification of the optimal developmental stage for collecting explants.

In grapevine, anther culture is often used to obtain somatic embryos. We identified the best developmental stage to initiate immature anther culture, in relation to the microsporogenesis and the outward appearance of anthers and flowers. Three grape genotypes were observed for common features. Six individual stages were identified, from when the pollen mother cells were in premeiotic phase, the inflorescence was compact, and the anthers were translucent green, to the stage when anthers were opaque yellow and uninucleate pollen had been formed. Optimal somatic embryogenesis was obtained for Vitis vinifera L. cvs. Chardonnay and Barbera when explants were collected at early stages, while in the case of 110R, somatic embryogenesis occurred more frequently at stages IV and V.