Microspore culture is a key method for rapid development of genetically uniform lines. In this study, we aimed to identify the critical factors influencing the efficiency of microspore culture in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa), which is an important vegetable crop widely cultivated worldwide for its genetic diversity and nutritional value. To this end, we compared the efficiency of microspore embryogenesis across four different Chinese cabbage genotypes. We selected three accessions representing high, medium, and low efficiencies. Flower buds were harvested to examine pollen developmental stages using a light microscope. Unexpectedly, we found that the genotype with the highest efficiency (Wonkyo20044ho) had abnormally shaped microspores and pollen. In contrast, the genotype with the lowest efficiency (Wonkyo20039ho) had fine, normally shaped pollen. An additional experiment was conducted using the Wonkyo20044ho accession. Different bud sizes were harvested from this accession to observe differences in embryogenesis. The results showed that almost all pollen stages of this genotype were suitable for microspore culture. It can be assumed that the genotype is much more critical for microspore culture efficiency than the developmental stage of the pollen. Our results serve as a valuable reference for improved cabbage breeding methods.

Brassica juncea, a member of the Brassicaceae family commonly referred to as mustard, is an allotetraploid (AABB, 2n=36) resulting from interspecific hybridization between Brassica rapa (AA, 2n=20) and Brassica nigra (BB, 2n=16). In this study, microspores were cultured using F₁ hybrids between two selected B. juncea double haploid (DH) lines with high anthocyanin and glucosinolate contents in the maternal versus leafy paternity. The results of the microspore culture showed that the total number of cultured buds, obtained embryos, and embryos per bud were 2,010, 15,526, and 7.62, respectively. Colchicine was used to induce the amphidiploids (AABB). We found that 149 of the 218 regenerated plants (68.3%) were amphidoploid. Among them, 117 individuals underwent ripening and seed harvesting and were used for subsequent phenotype analysis. Leaf color, length, and other agricultural traits exhibited various patterns owing to the recombination of the parental allele. The glucosinolate (GSL) content ranged from a maximum of 29.27 μmol/g dry weight to a minimum of 6.39 μmol/g dry weight, exceeding the range of parental value. The composition of GSL was mainly aliphatic, with sinigrin accounting for approximately 89% of the total aliphatic GSL content. These DH lines and their respective unique phenotypic traits are crucial for crop breeding and are valuable resources for advancing functional genomics and developing molecular markers in B. juncea.

Amphidiploid Brassica juncea (AABB, 2n=36) contains the synthesized genome of the diploid ancestors of Brassica rapa (AA, 2n=20) and Brassica nigra (BB, 2n=16), proven the ‘triangle of U’ model. Varieties of the B. juncea include vegetables, oilseed crops, and medicinal plants in South Asia, China, and other regions. ‘Dolsangat’, one of the cultivars of B. juncea is widely used as the main ingredient for ‘KatKimchi’, a kind of Korean traditional food Kimchi. To develop an efficient polyploidization protocol of B. juncea, we used twenty accessions. Among them, we could induce the amphidiploid plants with 0.23% in natural. A successful of polyploidization, it is essential of chromosome doubling regent treatment of B. juncea. At first, we tried to colchicine treatment in the embryo stage and it was very harmful to the embryo and could get few plants. The second, we made the regeneration plants from embryo to rooting phase and shocked them in 0.34% colchicine contained distilled water. We could induce amphidiploid plants with a success rate of 63.4%. Also, we surveyed glucosinolate content and JB1, Alsami, and JD6 showed high total contents. These plants will use for genetic materials for breeding, genetic and molecular studies.

Kimchi cabbage (known as Chinese cabbage) is major vegetable in Korea. An inbred line of ‘Wonkyo20038ho’, was developed by the National Institute of Horticultural & Herbal Science, RDA in Republic of Korea. The microspore culture was carried out using ‘Chunhuigohangwang’ which was introduced from China in 2002. Among 3 DH inbred lines, ‘Wonkyo20038ho’ inbred line was finally selected after field exhibition in 2009. The horticultural traits of ‘Wonkyo20038ho’ inbred line; half-open head, white inner leaf colour, and dark green outer leaf colour. The average (for four years) head weight was 2025.3g, and head width and height were 15.8cm and 32.4cm, respectively. Head shape was narrow elliptic and degree of overlapping leaf was medium. Numbers of outer and internal leaves were 14.1 and 49.8, respectively. Harvest maturity was mid-late maturing type and average of seed yield for five years was 926 seeds. In addition, ‘Wonkyo20038ho’ inbred line is suitable for salad in that it possessed few trichome and narrow elliptic head shape.

Anther culture is useful and significant tool for producing haploid or doubled haploid (DH) plants in crop breeding system. Androgenesis is the way of inducing haploid and DH plants from anther (immature pollen) or microspore culture. In vitro androgenesis is efficient technique for introducing complete homozygous lines in one generation, thus less time and expense could be necessary than conventional plant breeding. In maize, anther culture is important system for shortening the breeding cycle and enhancing selection efficiency. Anther culture technique is also applicable to various researches such as molecular genetics, genetic engineering, genomics, and plant biotechnology. We review the past and present studies on anther culture and provide useful information for future researches on androgenesis in maize. The combination of androgenesis with other techniques such as molecular breeding and biotechnology is producing a variety of variety of maize species. In addition, we suggest strategy to develop androgenesis technique adapted to Korean research environment.