This invention provides a process for producing germplasm of plant species exhibiting enhanced response to anther culture. The anther culture procedure itself is used as a selection criterion for genes favoring in vitro androgenesis. After subjecting anthers to standard anther culture regeneration procedures, the regenerated plants are intermated and self-pollinated to generate valuable genetic variability for improved culture response. The transfer of increased anther culturability to other selected germplasm is also possible.
