Somaclonal variation in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).: II.: Field performance of somaclones

Thirty-one somaclones in two advanced successive selfed generations (R-6 and R-7) regenerated in vitro from immature inflorescences or embryos of six spring bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivars (Sakha 8, Sakha 69, Giza 157, Giza 160, Lerma Rojo 64 and Tobari 66) have been evaluated under field conditions during two agronomic seasons. Agronomic traits and yield components were studied in the somaclones and compared with their donor parental lines. The combined analysis of variance revealed the presence of highly significant differences between somaclones and their original cultivars. In general, variation was observed within and between somaclones and their original cultivars for days to heading, days to physiological maturity, plant height, grain yield and yield components, especially in those derived from two Egyptian cultivars (Sakha 8, Sakha 69). Moreover, 5 out of 19 somaclones derived from Sakha 8, 4 out of 5 somaclones from Sakha 69 and one somaclone from Giza 157 were superior to their original cultivars. Thus, somaclonal variation arising from tissue culture could successfully produce genotypes agronomically superior to the parental cultivars and useful for wheat breeding programs.