Morphological and genetic characterization of micropropagated field grown plants of Aloe vera L

Abstract

A large scale shoot multiplication from apical meristem in Aloe vera L. was obtained on MS with 35.5 μM BAP, 9.8 μM IBA and 81.4 μM adenine sulphate. Fifty micropropagated plants were successfully transferred to the field and maintained to attain reproductive phase. Field evaluation of micropropagated plants is important to assess predicted clonal fidelity. Exo‐morphological evaluation of Aloe plants, identified three seed setting plants, designated as somaclones. Seeds were viable and germinated (70.58%) in vitro. Although chromosome number and morphology of somaclones were identical with the donor plants their RAPD profiles and ITS‐1 sequences were different from donor plant. This study reports Seed setting somaclones in Aloe vera, for the first time which may serve as new genetic resource for biotechnological improvement.