THE EFFECTS OF GAMMA IRRADIATION AND SOMACLONAL VARIATION ON MORPHOLOGY VARIATION OF MUTANT RODENT TUBER (Typhonium flagelliforme Lodd.) LINES

Abstract

<p>Rodent tuber (Typhonium flagelliforme Lodd.) is an Indonesian plant with high medicinal potential as anti-cancer. This plant has a low genetic variation in Indonesia. Gamma irradiation can be used to increase genetic variation. This research aimed to explore the effects of gamma irradiation and somaclonal variation on several mutant rodent tuber lines. Six somatic cell populations, which were treated by 6 Gy of gamma irradiation, were successfully regenerated into plantlets. Six mutant lines had been sub cultured into second and third generations by using optimal regeneration media (MS0 supplemented with 0.5 mg/L BAP and 1 mg/L NAA). Rooting of in vitro plantlets had been done by using optimal rooting media MS0 supplemented with 0 mg/L NAA and 0.5 mg/L NAA). Plantlets with good roots were acclimatized and transferred into greenhouse. The morphology of first generation mutant in greenhouse (M1) were characterized and analyzed by using descriptive statistical method. The observed morphological characters including plant height, shoot number, leaf number, and leaf area. A hundred and seventy five (175) mutant lines were obtained on the third generation (MV3) from five somatic cell populations. Mutant line 6-3-x has the highest mean number of shoots, which was 4.62 shoots. Percentage of plant alive after acclimatization in the greenhouse was 78%. Out of 37 M1 mutant lines, morphologically diverse lines were observed with the highest plant height increase: <br />15.5 cm on 6-2-4-1 mutant line, the highest plant shoots increase: 5 shoots on 6-6-7-8 mutant line, the highest leaf number increase: 17 leaves on 6-6-7-8 mutant line, and the highest leaf area increase: 47.24 cm2 on 6-2-5-2 mutant line. In conclusion, gamma irradiation and somaclonal variation could increase genetic variation of mutant rodent tuber lines as shown by morphological data. </p><p><strong>Keywords</strong> : Thyphonium flagelliforme , Gamma-Irradiation Somaclonal-Variation, Morphology-Variation</p>