Somaclonal variation in triticale (×Triticosecale Wittmack) cv. Carman

Abstract

Callus was initiated from 15-day-old embryos of 'Carman' triticale (×Triticosecale Wittmack) cultured on 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid supplemented Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. For plant regeneration, the calli were subcultured every 4 weeks on MS media with no added hormones. The original euploid (2n = 42) regenerated plants and their progeny were examined for several traits. Considerable variation for all measured traits was observed among the regenerated plants. Variability was greatest for spike length, fertility, and plant height. Two second-generation plants were found to have a significant increase in percent kernel protein relative to 'Carman' controls. Electrophoretic studies showed that all regenerated plants of both generations had the same prolamin banding pattern as 'Carman' triticale but variation existed in the intensity of the bands. This was especially true for the bands encoded for by the rye genome. One genotype, viz. R13, exhibited extreme chromosomal instability resulting in the occurrence of both rye and wheat univalents as observed at metaphase I.Key words: somaclonal variation, triticale, tissue culture, plant regeneration.