The influence of selected animal steroid sex hormones, on generative development of winter wheat
var. Grana was investigated. Wheat plants of this variety necessitate 63-day long vernalization.
Mature, isolated embryos of wheat were cultured in vitro on media containing androsterone, androstenedione, estriol, estrone, 17β-estradiol and progesterone in concentrations 10−5 and 10−6 M. They were not vernalized or vernalized for 7, 14, 21 and 28 days (5 °C, 8 h photoperiod).
Investigated steroids stimulated the generative development of winter wheat by an increasing in the percentage of heading
plants and accelerating the heading. The strongest effect was observed when plants were treated with steroids during the suboptimal,
21 and 28 day, vernalization. After 28 days of vernalization, 100 % heading were observed in plants obtained on the media
containing androsterone and androstenedione in concentrations 10−5 and 10−6 M or estrone, 17β-estradiol and progesterone in concentration 10−5 M. Control plants showed only 8 % heading.
Key words winter wheat - vernalization - heading - animal sex steroid hormones -
in vitro culture
An erratum to this article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11738-003-0055-7.