Molecular analysis of genetic stability in long-term micropropagated shoots of Olea europaea L. (cv. Dezful)

Abstract

Somaclonal variation of Micropropagated plants of olive trees (cv. Dezful) were evaluated between subcultures as well as two different carbohydrate sources by using RAPD technique and physiological characters. In this study, the highest polymorphic RAPD bands were observed between regenerated plants of first subculture and seventh subculture's while, the lowest changes were shown between two carbohydrate treatments in each subculture and it was also true between mother trees and first subculture plants. Different subcultures produced different level of genetic diversity in the cultivar studied. The genotypes also differed significantly in physiological characters like number of nods and branches by increasing the number of subcultures. The data reported in this study revealed that micropropagation may affect both genetic profile and physiological traits of the olive plants studied. © 2009 Asian Network for Scientific Information.