Somaclonal variation and in vitro induced mutagenesis in grapevine

Somaclonal and in vitro mutagen-induced variability was studied in grapevine. Plants of Vitis vinifera cv. Podarok Magaracha were regenerated from leaf explants through somatic embryogenesis. Chromosome counts of root tips was used for screening of regenerated plants. Among 242 studied plants, six (2.5%) tetraploids (2n=4x=76) were identified; all others were diploid (2n=2x=38). Neither chimeral, nor aneuploid plants were observed. Gamma-irradiation (5-100 Gy) increased tetraploid plant formation frequency of primary (7%) and embryogenic calluses (7.6%) and some aneuploid plants were also found. Colchicine treatment was not effective for the production of tetraploid plants. Variability among regenerated plants was also found after field testing.