Somaclonal variation and Chemicals mutations to induce genetic variability in apomictic cultivars of Cenchrus ciliaris L.

LÓPEZ COLOMBA, E.; GRIFFA, S.; RIBOTTA A; CARLONI, E.; TOMASSINO, E.; LUNA, C.; BIDERBOST, E.; GRUNBERG, K.

Buenos Aires

Simposio; The 6 th international Symposium on the molecular Breeding of Forage and Turf; 2010

Molecular Breeding of Forage Turf

Cenchrus ciliaris L., a forage grass of wide distribution in the north-west area of Argentina, is a tetraploid (4x=36) and an obligate apomictic. One way of obtaining a novel germplasm is by using non-conventional methods, such as somaclonal variation and induced mutations. Somaclonal variants were regenerated successfully through somatic embryogenesis of Cenchrus ciliaris L. cv Biloela. To carry out induced mutations, calli were exposed to ethylmethanesulphonate (EMS) and were then regenerated in vitro. The regenerated plants (R0) were transplanted to the field to obtain seeds for next generation (R1 lines). Comparison among the R1 lines and their parent were made for morphological and agronomic characters. Significant variation among R1 lines and differences between R1 lines and their parents were observed in plant growth habit, plant height, fresh weight, dry weight and inflorescence length. Differences in (CAT) catalase activity and (MDA) malondialdehyde content were found between parental cultivar and the most of induced mutants and selected tissue culture derived-lines when were exposed to stress conditions. Genetic variations among mutants and somaclonal variants were revealed by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. The results suggest that in vitro technique and EMS treatments may be used as a novel approach within the framework of a genetic improvement program to increase genetic diversity.