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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Poplarville, Mississippi » Southern Horticultural Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #223547
Title: Colchicine-and Oryzalin-Induced Polyploidy in Hedychium muluense R.M. Smith

Author
item Sakhanokho, Hamidou
item KELLEY, ROWENA - MISS STATE UNIV

Submitted to: American Society of Horticulture Science Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/18/2008
Publication Date: 7/1/2008
Citation: Sakhanokho, H.F., Kelley, R.Y. 2008. Colchicine-and Oryzalin-Induced Polyploidy in Hedychium muluense R.M. Smith. American Society of Horticulture Science Meeting Vol.43(4).

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The genus Hedychium, which belongs to the Gingiberaceae family, consists of about 80 species with increasing popularity as ornamentals. H. muluense is an epiphytic tropical that bears small but pretty flowers. Induced polyploidization in plants can be used for different purposes, including increasing flower size, intensity of leaf and flower color, modifying plant shape, and restoring fertility. The purpose of this investigation was to induce polyploidy in H. muluense with the ultimate goal of increasing flower size. Polyploidy was successfully induced in the diploid H. muluense (2n = 34) by treating embryogenic callus with various concentrations of colchicine (2.5, 5, and 10 mM) or oryzalin (30, 60, 120 µM) for 24, 48, and 72 hours. Flow cytometry and stomatal frequency and size were used to assess the ploidy level of the regenerated plants. Triploids, tetraploids, and mixoploids were obtained with both antimitotic agents. The most efficient treatment for inducing tetraploidy was the 2.5 mM colchicine for 24 hours.