Our study involved the first-ever evaluation of the performance of anther culture and wheat × maize hybridization techniques in producing haploids or doubled haploids as a result of spontaneous doubling of the chromosome number during androgenesis in plants from 30 wheat genotypes including ancient, local and modern types. The results indicated that the best induction rates of androgenic structures and haploid embryos for the hexaploid and tetraploid wheat genotypes were obtained with anther culture and wheat × maize hybridization, respectively. Whereas only one regenerated plant from 15 genotypes of tetraploid wheat was obtained, 13 plants were regenerated from 15 genotypes of hexaploid wheat. Moreover, haploid embryos obtained in wheat × maize hybridization 60 and 100% green plants regenerated in relation to the number of the cultured haploid embryos. Genotypes with high induction capacity to produce androgenic structure or haploid embryos did not have desired haploid plantlets regeneration capacity and vice-versa. However, with both methods, hexaploid wheat genotypes had a considerable ability to produce green plants. Doubled haploid plants were obtained from ancient and local wheat genotypes by both methods, but not from modern wheat. Those genotypes can be used as parents in future wheat breeding programs and new varieties may be obtained by selecting pure lines in wheat populations

Accumulation of LaCl3, a well-known Ca2+-channel blocker, can inhibit plant growth. However, the current understanding of its effects on gene expression is limited. In this paper, different concentrations of LaCl3 (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 mM) were used to treat germinated wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) seeds for 24 h. The degree of root growth inhibition gradually increased with increasing LaCl3 concentration. qRT-PCR analysis revealed that the expression of several key genes related to the cell cycle process, such as pcna, mcm2, rdr and cyclin B, were significantly down-regulated. Further analysis of genomic DNA instability using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and methylation levels by Coupled Restriction Enzyme Digestion-Random Amplification (CRED-RA) analysis indicated a significant increase in genomic DNA polymorphisms and methylation levels. The results of this study verified that the reasons why LaCl3 treatment can inhibit the growth of wheat roots are as follows: interference in the normal progression of the cell cycle, induction of genomic DNA instability and increase in DNA methylation levels.