Abstract: Haploid suspension callus cultures from embryos of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf. ) × maize (Zea mays L. ) crosses were used for protoplast isolation. Experimental results from enzyme digestion showed large numbers of viable protoplasts released from both suspension culture and solid culture of callus cut into small pieces of 1 mm in size prior to incubation in an enzyme solution containing 2.0% cellulase RS and 0.5 % pectolyase Y-23. Division frequency of protoplasts isolated from suspension cultured callus was quite different from that of solid cultured callus, however, the former being 5.20%, and the latter less than 1.0% when cultured on KM8p medium containing 1.0 mg/L 2, 4-D using LMP (low melting point) agarose embedding method. Embryogenic ealli could be selected out from protoplast-derived microcalli after 2 to 3 subcultures. Plants could be regenerated from protoplast-derived embryogenic calli after 20 days of culture on differentiation medium I (MS basal medium supplemented with 0.2 mg/L 2, 4-D, 1.0 mg/L BAP, 0. I mg/L NAA, 3 %/4 su- crose, 200 mg/L casein hydrolysate, 146 mg/L glutamine, 300 mg/L aspartic acid) and (components were the same as I without 2, 4-D) respectively. The plant regeneration frequency was about 20%. Chromosome count of root tip cells of 4 plants of the 22 protoplast- derived plants sampled at random revealed haploid in nature (2n= 2x= 14).

Key words: Wide hybridization, Haploid induction, Protoplast culture, Triticum durum, zea mays