In vitro mutation induction of Saintpaulia using ethyl methanesulfonate

Abstract

This study has been performed to investigate the efficiency of the chemicalmutagen ethyl methanesulphonate (EMS) to induce mutations in Saintpaulia. In vitro leafsections of Saintpaulia cv. Crystobal were exposed to various EMS treatments at 0%,0.2%, 0.4%, and 0.6% for 30, 60, 120, and 240 min after which adventitious shoots wererecovered from the treated explants. Shoots producing at least six leaves were induced toroot and the resulting plantlets were transplanted to soil. A total of 1838 plantlets wasgrown to flowering stage and 10 mutants were identified. Four of the mutants werevariegated leaf chimeras and the remaining six presented variations at the level of flowercolor and/or fringe. Results in the present study showed the efficiency of EMS to induce invitro mutation of Saintpaulia and the method can be used in the future to assist breedingin this popular ornamental plant.