Ecological aspects of in vitro wheat herbicide tolerance testing

Abstract

To avoid soil pollution caused by field trials for herbicide tolerance of wheat genotypes, an alternative in vitro lest was created and analyzed in this study. For validation of in vitro results, a comparative in situ test was conducted in a greenhouse. Four winter wheat cultivars (Renesansa, Stepa, Proteinka and Pesma) and three herbicide (tribenuron) concentrations (I-18.75 mgl-1, II- 37.50 mgl-1, III- 56.25 mgl-1) were used in both tests. Zygotic embryo culture was used as the method for in vitro testing. Since different parameters were analyzed in the in vitro and in situ experiments, only the final conclusions about herbicide tolerance of different genotypes were compared. Tribenuron-methyl had no significant effect on callus fresh weight only in cv. Proteinka. Similarly, the in situ experiment showed that tribenuron-methyl had no significant effect on plant height and number of kernels per spike in the same cultivar (cv. Proteinka), while the highest concentration of tribenuron-methyl caused significant decreases of these traits in the other cultivars. This compatibility of results from different tests can be considered as a proof of validity of in vitro test, which is more ecologically friendly than field trials.