Articles
VARIATION IN MICROPROPAGATED PLANTS
Article number
748_4
Pages
55 – 63
Language
English
Abstract
Plants which have been clonally propagated by in vitro tissue culture are known to exhibit a wide array of genetic and epigenetic variation.
This is termed somaclonal variation.
For those primarily interested in clonal fidelity this can be a serious problem and strategies have been developed in order to reduce the variation to manageable levels.
However, for some vegetatively propagated crops which are recalcitrant for conventional breeding, such as banana cultivars (Musa × acuminata, Musa × balbisiana), this variation can be useful in selecting for clones with improved agronomic characteristics.
The source of this variation may derive from variation pre-existing in the mother plant or it may be induced in vitro.
Many factors are known to influence in vitro induced variation, however, it has been proposed that hypo- or hypermethylation of DNA, which may trigger genome-wide changes, may be the underlying cause.
Evidence for this is reviewed along with recent analysis of somaclonal variation at the molecular-level, along with some general recommendations to minimise variation.
This is termed somaclonal variation.
For those primarily interested in clonal fidelity this can be a serious problem and strategies have been developed in order to reduce the variation to manageable levels.
However, for some vegetatively propagated crops which are recalcitrant for conventional breeding, such as banana cultivars (Musa × acuminata, Musa × balbisiana), this variation can be useful in selecting for clones with improved agronomic characteristics.
The source of this variation may derive from variation pre-existing in the mother plant or it may be induced in vitro.
Many factors are known to influence in vitro induced variation, however, it has been proposed that hypo- or hypermethylation of DNA, which may trigger genome-wide changes, may be the underlying cause.
Evidence for this is reviewed along with recent analysis of somaclonal variation at the molecular-level, along with some general recommendations to minimise variation.
Publication
Authors
A.C. James, S. Peraza-Echeverria, L. Peraza-Echeverria, V.A. Herrera-Valenci
Keywords
Musa, Solanum aviculare, Saccharum, chimeric, epigenetic, methylation, somaclonal
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