Aberrant Citrus Plants Obtained by Somatic Embryogenesis of Nucelli Cultured in Vitro

Abstract

Virus-free plants of 8 monoembryonic cultivars of Citrus Clementina Hort ex Tan. were obtained by somatic embryogenesis of the nucellus cultured in vitro. Twenty-nine percent of them had abnormal phenotypic characters that were maintained for 7 years in the greenhouse, and by bud wood propagation on different rootstocks. Electrophoretic studies of the proteins disclosed differences in band intensity and distribution between normal and abnormal plants, indicating the possibility of genotypic variations. Alternative methods to obtain virus-free citrus plants are advised to reduce the high percentage of abnormalities.