A rapid production of doubled haploid lines in the cultivated sunflower (H. annuus L.) is already possible by means of irradiated pollen - induced parthenogenesis (Todorova et al., 1997). The genetic constitution of donor parents is one of the significant factors for the successful induction of parthenogenetic embryos. The effect of pollen donor was examined in eighty- eight combinations, involving 10 donor parents, a pollen mixture of them and two mother genotypes.

Pollen was treated with gamma-irradiation doses of 600 Gy and 900 Gy. In total, 705 embryos were cultivated, giving rise to 205 plants that reached maturity. After selfing, 104 plants produced seeds, while the others were sterile. Sixty-five agronomically useful doubled haploid lines were selected.

The ploidy level of all the regenerants was flow-cytometrically evaluated. Best results were achieved by the use of the pollen donor Z-8-A.

The mixed pollen, followed by two pollen donor lines yielded also very high numbers of parthenogenetic embryos, i.e., plants