Microspore culture of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) in conjunction with other in vitro technologies

Microspore culture in conjuction with other technologies such as selection,mutagenesis and transformation has been used for the production of novel genotypes of Brassica napus L. for crop improvement. The example ofin vitro selection of microspore - derived embryos includes: a) ploidy level, b) seed oil composition (for example: high level of erucic acid), c) genotypes with restorer genefor CMS-ogiira system (by means of isozyme marker PGl-2), d) herbicide resistant forms. Efficiency of microspore mutagnesis has been done by the treatment of freshly isolated microspores with UV and MNU. Direct delivery of foreign gene to the microspores (microprojectile bombardment) combined withthe use of Agrobacterium tumefaciens to microspore derived embryos seems tobe a promising way of oilseed rape transformation.