The influence of tempreature stress pre-treatment on anther culture response has been examined in eight barley cultivars. Spikes were sampled when the distance from the base of the flag leaf to the penultimate leaf was 2 to 5 cm. Most microspores in the anthers of central floret of each spike were in the mid-uninucleate stage as determined by cytological observation. Spikes were pre-treated in darkness at 4°C for periods of 21 and 28 days. Thirty anthers from central part of each spike were isolated on a petri dish and constituted one replication. Agar solidified modified LS induction medium was used. Indole-3-acetic acid(IAA) and 6-benzylaminopurine(BAP) both at 1 mg L’ were added to the medium. Calli were transfered for plant regeneration to the same medium as the induction medium but IAA was eliminated and BAP concentration was reduced to 0.4 mg L1 and the carbon source was 30 mg U1 sucrose. Genotype differences were highly significant for proportion of anther respons, the number of green and albino regenerants per 100 anthers plated. Temperature pre-treatment differences were not significant, although there were large genotype by pre-treatment interactions. The most responsive cultivar was “lgri” with a mean 14.61% green plant with 28 days pretreatment. Rates of response from varieties “lgri” and ReihanH are now large enough to be used in a routine breeding program.
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