The fumigation toxicity of Melaleuca alternifolia (Maid. & Betche) Cheel. (Myrtales: Myrtaceae) essential oil and its major fractions was studied under laboratory conditions against adults of Sitophilus oryzae L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) to protect wheat grains ( Triticum aestivum L.) (Poales: Poaceae) from this global pest that destroys the host plant during storage. By analyzing M. alternifolia essential oil (EO) using GC/MS terpinen-4-ol and γ-terpinene were detected as major components. In the fumigation toxicity, M. alternifolia EO showed the highest toxicity (LC50 = 0.31 μl · l–1 air), followed by terpinen-4-ol (LC ₅₀ = 23.65 μl · l–1 air) and γ-terpinene was the least toxic (LC ₅₀ = 43.55 μl · l–1 air). When tested for their insecticidal activities against S. oryzae in stored wheat, no progeny emerged after 3 months of treatment with M. alternifolia EO at 10 mg · g–1 or with terpinen-4-ol and γ-terpinene for 2 months. However, none of these compounds could protect wheat grain from damage throughout the entire study period (4 months). Interestingly, all tested compounds at the highest application rate did not show any phytotoxic effects after 4 months of storage.

Using in vitro androgenesis serves as a unique opportunity to produce doubled haploid (DH) plants in many species. More benefits of this biological phenomenon have kept these methods in the focus of fundamental research and crop breeding for decades. In common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), in vitro anther culture is one of the most frequently applied DH plant production methods. The efficiency of in vitro wheat anther culture is influenced by many factors, such as the genotype, growing conditions, collection time, pre-treatments, and compositions of media and culture conditions. According to some critical review, the genotype dependency, low efficiency and albinism are mentioned as limitations of application of the anther culture method. However, some research groups have made significant efforts to diminish the effects of these bottlenecks. Due to the improvements, a well-established in vitro anther culture method can be an efficient tool in modern wheat breeding programs.