Plant Tissue Cult. 10(1) : 25-29, 2000 (June)

Somaclonal Variation of Nonirradiated and Irradiated Calli of Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.)

M. A. Samad and S. Begum

Bangladesg Institute of Nuclear Agriculture, Post Box No. 4, Mymensingh

Key words: Somaclonal variation, Irradiated calli, Saccharum officinarum

Abastract

Protocol for induction of callus and regeneration of plants were established in 1994 through leaf sheath culture of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) var. Isd-16. Regenerated (R₁) plants were grown in the field for screening against red rot disease and waterlogged condition in the subsequent R₂-R₄ during 1995-1998. Selection was made on the basis of disease reactions and tolerance to waterlogged condition. In the R₄, three hills showed moderately resistance (MR) to red rot disease and another three hills showed tolerance to waterlogged condition. In another set of experiments, calli of Isd-16 were treated with different doses of gamma rays (2-10 Gy) of which 768 R₁ individuals grew to maturity during 1995-1996. The maximum regeneration was observed in population treated with 3 Gy. Out of 768 plants, 50 grew to maturity. In 1996-1997 and 1997-1998 seasons R₂ and R₃ were raised selection of delayed/non-flowering type. Only five R₃ canes showed delayed flowering.

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