The primary objective of this U.S.-Hungary research project under the Hungary Joint Fund between Dr. Joseph Mascarenhas, State University of New York at Albany and Dr. Beata Barnabas, Agricultural Research Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, is to develop methods for the production of mature, viable pollen from microspores cultured in anthero. The work will involve exposing microspores by making a cut in the anther wall prior to micro- projectile bombardment and the pollen will then be matured in anthero. If and when this preliminary work indicated that the system seems to be working well, the pollen matured in anthero will be used for pollination to study stable transformation of maize plants. Maize is a very important agricultural crop both in Eastern Europe and the US and a simple transformation procedure using pollen would be of significance for basic studies in genetics and developmental biology of the plant and in the engineering of new traits of agronomic value. This project in plant physiology fulfills the program objective of advancing scientific knowledge by enabling leading experts in the United States and Eastern Europe to combine complementary talents and pool research resources in areas of strong mutual interest and competence.
