biologia plantarum

Biologia plantarum 50:425-428, 2006 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-006-0061-x

Influence of CCC, putrescine and gellam gum concentration on gynogenic embryo induction in Allium cepa

M. Ponce^1,*, L. Martinez¹, C. Galmarini²

¹ National University of Cuyo, Chacras de Coria, Mendoza, Argentina

² Institute of Horticulture, Agricultural Faculty, National University of Cuyo and INTA La Consulta, Mendoza, Argentina

The induction of haploid plants by in vitro gynogenesis is a promising practice in onion breeding. In order to increase the frequency of embryo regeneration and haploid plant production in Valcatorce INTA, Cobriza INTA and Navidena INTA cultivars, putrescine and CCC were used, either as a component of the culture media or by spraying or injecting them to the umbels. Additionally, two concentration of gellam gum were tested. A higher number of gynogenic embryos was achieved by using 7 g dm^-3 gellam gum, and this number was not affected by the addition of putrescine to the media. CCC sprayed at the umbels significantly increased the gynogenic embryo rate, which was more than three times higher than the control. Cobriza INTA showed the highest induced embryo rate (4.76 %).

Keywords: growth regulators; haploid; onion

Subjects: Allium cepa; auxins; cultivar and genotype differences; cytokinins; gellam gum; growth analysis, plant development, biomass and yield enhancement; onion; ploidy; putrescine

Received: September 14, 2004; Accepted: May 10, 2005; Published: September 1, 2006  Show citation