ANTHOCYANIN YIELDS OF CLONAL WILD CARROT CELL-CULTURES - EFFECTS OF SERIAL CLONING PLUS SELECTION FOR HIGH OR LOW-YIELD

The anthocyanin yields in clonal populations of wild carrot suspension cultures were measured after four patterns of cloning and selection. These patterns were: 1. serial selection of high yielding clones, 2 and 3. one selection of a low yielding clone followed by serial selection of high yielding clones, 4. serial selection of low yielding clones. In all cases the populations of clones obtained showed a wide range of anthocyanin accumulation. The population means of anthocyanin content also varied on serial cloning plus selection for high yield. One selection for low yield substantially decreased the anthocyanin accumulation in the populations obtained by subsequent serial cloning plus selection for high yield in about half the cases. Serial cloning plus selection for low yield decreased the anthocyanin accumulation to low and possibly zero levels in 3 out of 4 cases. The anthocyanin accumulation of these populations could be partially restored by serial recloning plus selection of the highest yielding clones. In one low yielding clonal population a marked increase in anthocyanin occurred during serial passaging. The data lead to the conclusion that the cell from which a clonal population is initiated affects the means of the clonal populations subsequently obtained from it. The implications of this hypothesis are discussed. © 1990 Kluwer Academic Publishers.