Assessment of Genetic Stability of Propagated Plants of Alyssum caricum Using Flow Cytometry

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the nuclear DNA content of A. caricum using in vitro-grown plants and to analyse the genetic stability of in vitro-propagated plantlets through flow cytometry. The process involved germinating seeds on Murashige and Skoog medium with 3% sucrose and 0.7% phytoagar. The germinated seedlings were then cultured in vitro in a controlled environment. For the in vitro propagation experiment, nodal explants were cultured on three shoot induction media for 3-4 weeks. Subsequently, the adventitious shoots were transferred to the MS medium with the same formulations as the shoot induction medium to facilitate shoot propagation. The propagated adventitious shoots were then moved to full-strength MS medium with 3% sucrose and 0.7% phytoagar, without any plant growth regulators, to induce root development. The nuclear DNA content was estimated using flow cytometry for both the in vitro germinated seedlings and the propagated plantlets. The analyses revealed that A. caricum had 1.75 pg/2C±0.01 mean nuclear DNA content. Furthermore, the propagated plants exhibited similar nuclear DNA content. These results suggest that the analysed individuals were genetically stable. However, to obtain more comprehensive information about A. caricum, additional studies such as chromosome counting, genetic analyses are necessary.