PLOIDY INCREASING OF CATHARANTHUS ROSEUS (L.) G.DON. BY CHEMOMUTATION

Polyploid was induced by aqueous colchicine solution with different conditions of treatment in two cultivars (‘Grape cooler’ and ‘Orchid cooler’) of Catharanthus roseus (2n = 16). Dry and soaked seeds of each cultivar were treated with 0,1% to 0,4% aqueous colchicine solutions within 2 to 24 hours.
Growing points of 2 true leaf pairs and 4 true leaf pairs seedling in each cultivar were treated twice a day through cotton ball with two drops of 0,1% to 0,4% aqueous colchicine solution for five days.
Suitable controls with distilled water were maintained for comparison.
Malformations of morphological characters were shown up on polyploid plants, which were induced by seeds treating from 0,1% to 0,3% aqueous colchicine solution up from 10 hours, 2 – true leaf pairs seedlings treating from 0,2% and 0,3% aqueous colchicine solution.
Tetraploid (4n) and mixoploid plants were confirmed through DNA ploidy levels by using flow cytometry method.
Polyploid plants obtained have a potential to be used in amelioration of cultivars in Catharanthus roseus.

XIX International Symposium on Improvement of Ornamental Plants

F. Kobza, L. Qing

Catharanthus roseus, polyploid, colchicine, flow cytometry

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2000.508.66