The technique was discovered in 1964 by Guha and Maheshwari. This technique can be used in over 200 species, including tomato, rice, tobacco, barley, and geranium. Some of the advantages which make this a valuable method for obtaining haploid plants are:
the technique is fairly simple
it is easy to induce cell division in the immature pollen cells in some species
a large proportion of the anthers used in culture respond (induction frequency is high)
haploids can be produced in large numbers very quickly.
In experiments using Datura innoxia, induction frequencies of almost 100% and a yield of more than one thousand plantlets or calluses have occurred under optimal conditions from one anther. Success can be determined within 24 hours as cells begin to divide.
Some disadvantages of using anther culture to obtain haploids are:
when working with some species, the majority of plants produced have been non-haploid
in cereals, very few green plants are obtained; many of the plants are albinos or green-albino chimeras
it is tedious to remove the anthers without causing damage
sometimes a particular orientation is necessary to acheive a desired responce