Abstract
The analysis of sugarcane plants regenerated from culture for their reaction to eyespot (Helminthosporium sacchari) toxin is described. A total of 480 culture-derived plants (somaclones) from cultivar Q101 were characterized. Some of these plants derived from cultures which had been subjected to selection with the eyespot toxin and others were derived without overt selection. Leaves were assayed for their toxin reaction. A very high frequency of toxin-tolerant variants was found. The distribution was even further biased toward resistance in those plants regenerated from cultures exposed to toxin selection.
A total of 85 somaclones was analysed for the stability of their increased toxin tolerance to the primary somaclone; 22% were more tolerant; 38% were more susceptible. These results are discussed as they relate to the possibility of using consecutive vegetative segregation.
Six tolerant variants were also passed through a second tissue culture cycle and 60 secondary somaclones were assayed. Twenty four (40%) of these plants had a similar tolerance to the primary somacione; 22% were more tolerant; 38% were more susceptible. These results are discussed as they relative to the possibility of using consecutive cycles of culture to ‘stack’ improved characters into a sugarcane cultivar.
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Larkin, P.J., Scowcroft, W.R. Somacional variation and eyespot toxin tolerance in sugarcane. Plant Cell Tiss Organ Cult 2, 111–121 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00043356
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00043356