Application of Somaclonal Variation in Crop Improvement of Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millspaugh

Abstract

in the plant breeders perspective however, the boltom line, remains unimalely that the genetic variability recovered from regenerated plants should result In a phenotype that is agriculturally useful. The present reseorch program thus explored the possibility of exploiting agriculturally useful somaclonal variation for subsequent integration into plant breeding programmes and the following objectives were formulated: I. Develop tissue culture technology for Cajanus cajan (1.) Millsp. cv ICPL 87: a. Identity the best explant source. b. Optimize reproducible and high frequency regeneration, c. Irradiate in vitro cultures with gamma rays for additional variability. 2. Assess for somaclonal variation: a. Screen for plonk showing new variation coupled with statistical analysis d degree of variation in qualitative and quantitative charocten In the R2 and R3 generations. b. ldentw progenies with increased variaHon and selection of wurces d useful variation wlth stable inheritance. 3. Diagnostic: a. Investigation for somaclonal variation at the molecular level.