SOMACLONAL VARIATION AND IN-VITRO INDUCED MUTAGENESIS IN GRAPEVINE

Somaclonal and in vitro mutagen-induced variability was studied in gra pevine. Plants of Vitis vinifera cv. Podarok Magaracha were regenerate d from leaf explants through somatic embryogenesis. Chromosome counts of root tips was used for screening of regenerated plants. Among 242 s tudied 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 plan t formation frequency of primary (7%) and embryogenic calluses (7.6%) and some aneuploid plants were also found. Colchicine treatment was no t effective for the production of tetraploid plants. Variability among regenerated plants was also found after field testing.