Colchicine-induced chromosome doubling in Pennisetum interspecific hybrids and its effect on plant morphology

Published on May 02, 2020 07:49 AM

We report the production of hexaploid plants of interspecific

hybrids of Pennisetum, with the ultimate aim to improve

the biomass yield, drought tolerance and multicut

behaviour of this genus. Chromosome doubling was

achieved with the application of colchicine at three different

concentrations (0.05, 0.1 and 0.2%) for two time durations

(12 and 24 hours). The root slips and stem cuttings of

interspecific hybrids were used for treatment and the root

slips were found to be more efficient. The preliminary

screening to select the putative hexaploid plant was done

based on stomatal frequency and morphology. Plants

containing significantly lower stomatal frequency and larger

stomata size were selected for further analysis by

chromosome counting. This experiment confirmed that

0.1% concentration of colchicine treatment to root slips for

24 hours was more effective to induce the amphiploids in

Pennisetum.

Keywords: Interspecific hybrids, Pennisetum, amphiploids, stomatal morphology, chromosome doubling

Year: 2020
Volume: 80
Issue: 1
Article DOI: 10.31742/IJGPB.80.1.7
Print ISSN: 0019-5200
Online ISSN: 0975-6906

Arshpreet Kaur, Rahul Kapoor, Yogesh Vikal and Anu Kalia