Culture selected somaclonal variation in five Triticum aestivum L. genotypes

Somaclones (R-3 and R-4 generations) regenerated from five winter wheat (Tr iticum aestivum L.) genotypes were evaluated for variation in agronomic and morphological characters. Immature embryos were used as initial explant ma terial. Comparisons for plant height, top internode length, spike length, n umber of seeds per spike and 100 seed weight were made between the somaclon es and their parents. Some morphological variations of stem and spike chara cteristics were registered which demonstrate that plant height and spike le ngth can be changed by using immature embryo culture. The results obtained may be considered a biotechnological contribution to wheat plant improvemen t.