Q.72 First report of haploid production was in
- Brassica
- Mangifera
- Arabidopsis
- Datura
The first report of haploid production in plants was in Datura species. This refers to the spontaneous discovery of haploid plants in Datura stramonium by A.F. Blakeslee et al. in 1921-1922.
Correct Answer
Datura.
Option Analysis
Brassica: Incorrect. Haploids in Brassica (e.g., rapeseed) were reported later via anther culture or gynogenesis, not the first instance; widespread use came post-1970s.
Mangifera: Incorrect. Mango (Mangifera indica) has seen haploid production via irradiated pollen or parthenogenesis in recent decades, but no historical first report; mango genetics lagged behind model species.
Arabidopsis: Incorrect. Arabidopsis thaliana, a model plant, has haploids induced via centromere-mediated genome elimination or mutants in modern biotech (post-2000), far from the earliest report.
Datura: Correct. In 1921, Bergner (or Blakeslee et al., 1922) discovered spontaneous haploid sporophytes (n=12 chromosomes) in Datura stramonium from colchicine-mutagenized or natural variants, marking the first documented haploid production in angiosperms.
First report haploid production dates to Datura stramonium in 1921-22, sparking haploid breeding for homozygosity.
Discovery Details
Blakeslee’s team found dwarf haploids (n=12) in colchicine-treated D. stramonium, confirming gametophytic chromosome sets in sporophytes.
Later Advances
Guha & Maheshwari (1964) first cultured anthers for haploids in Datura innoxia; Brassica followed for crops.
Plant Haploid Report Timeline Brassica Post-1970s anther culture Mangifera Recent (irradiated pollen) Arabidopsis Modern in vitro Datura 1921-22 (first spontaneous) Haploids accelerate breeding via doubled haploids. For exams, Datura marks the origin.
