Micropropagation and Somaclonal Variation of Tulipa suaveolens (Liliaceae) in vitro

Abstract

The research was aimed at regenerating the Tulipa suaveolens Roth plants in vitro, examining their morphogenesis, and evaluating the plants’ genetic stability using molecular ISSR markers. Specimens of two genetically contrasting populations of protected T. suaveolens species were introduced into in vitro culture. Seedlings obtained from rape seeds cultivated under low temperatures for 3 months were used as donor material for clonal micropropagation. The selection of clonal micropropagation protocol was chosen on the basis of the data from literature. In specimens of both populations of T. suaveolens, the major stages of in vitro morphogenenis run simultaneously and in accordance with the protocol. It was revealed that bulblets are formed via direct organogenesis. Despite the morphological correspondence between the regenerated and intact plants, ISSR analysis identified a relatively high degree of somaclonal variability (13.9−15.8%). In ISSR patterns of regenerated plants, unique fragments completely lacking in specimens of the donor population were found.