Variations In Long-Term Wheat Somatic Tissue-Culture

Morphological and chromosomal changes were induced among plants regenerated from wheat somatic embryogenic tissues that retain regenerative potential for a long time. An effect of in vitro culture on mitochondrial DNA was also ascertained since variations in mitochrondrial DNA were observed in embryogenic and nonembryogenic genotypes. These variations were detected on restriction patterns. The possible significance of the mtDNA variations in affecting plant fertility and regeneration ability is discussed.