Cytogenetic studies of progenies from crosses between 'Centurk' wheat and its doubled haploids derived from anther culture

Karyotype stability, which is essential when using wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) doubled haploids in a breeding program, was evaluated in 14 anther-derived doubled-haploid lines after at least three generations of selfing, by crossing them as females with the parent cultivar 'Centurk' and doing cytological studies on the progenies. There were no deviations from the hexaploid chromosome number (2n = 42) in root tips. Meiotic chromosome pairing was as stable as that in the control ('Centurk' × 'Centurk') in most progenies. Chromosomal structural changes and (or) behavioral deviations were detected at the metaphase I, anaphase I, telophase I, and quartet stages of meiosis in a minor proportion of the cells. The frequencies of multivalents, lagging bivalents and univalents, bridges, and micronuclei were higher in some progenies than in the control. Chromosomal fragments were infrequent. The ranges in percentages of normal cells were 72.4–90.0 at anaphase I, 76.4–92.6 at telophase I, and 82.6–93.2 at quartet stages in the doubled-haploid progenies, compared with 95–100, 92–100, and 94–96, respectively, in the control. On the basis of these results, the doubled-haploid lines should produce enough normal gametes to provide adequate seed supplies when they are used as parents in wheat cultivar and population improvement.Key words: Triticum aestivum, chromosome pairing, chromosome aberrations, gametoclonal variation.