PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL-ANALYSIS OF SOMACLONES DERIVED FROM LEAF EXPLANTS OF LATHYRUS-SATIVUS

Low ODAP somaclones have been evaluated far physiological and biochemi cal parameters especially in relation to attributes that lead to incre ased biomass production. All the somaclones during development had sub stantially lower ODAP content in leaves as compared to parent P24. Con siderable variation was observed in relation to leaf width, leaf lengt h, internodal length and leaf area. Somaclone Bio L12 had the highest whereas parent P24 and Bio 164 had the least leaf area. Harvest index was the highest and biomass production was the lowest in the Bio 184. Bio L08 gave the highest seed yield. Photosynthetic rates were also hi gher in Bio L12, although no significant positive correlations observe d in leaf photosynthesis and seed yield. The differences in physiologi cal and biochemical parameters indicate the possibility of development of high yielding genotypes. The results in present investigation show differences in photosynthetic rate, leaf characteristics, seed yield and ODAP content among somalones and parent. Somaclones with extremely low ODAP content with variability in leaf morphology and photosynthet ic rate is indicative of variation induced, during plant tissue cultur e.