A new somaclone of Prunus avium shows diverse growth pattern under different spectral quality of radiation

The aim of this research was to set up a regeneration protocol from mature explants of Prunus avium L. cv. Hedelfinger and to develop an early screening method for selection of putative somaclones based on morphological and physiological traits regulated by the spectral quality of radiation. DNA analyses of a new somaclone named HS, conducted using Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR), revealed a polymorphism between the somaclone HS and wild type propagated by microcuttings. When grown under different spectral quality of radiation, somaclone HS showed a different pattern of growth and development compared to the wild type with the main modifications related to apical dominance and chlorophyll production. Somaclone HS showed reduced apical dominance compared to the wild type. Wild type shoots grown in darkness showed chlorophyll a and b contents at levels in both cases comparable to those recorded under red radiation while HS did not retain the same capability.