title: Production of dodecaploid plants of Japanese persimmon (Diospyros kaki L.) by colchicine treatment of protoplasts.
abstract: Dodecaploid plants of Japanese persimmon (Diospyros kaki L.) were obtained by colchicine treatment of protoplasts. Callus protoplasts of 'Jiro' (2n=90, x=15) were cultured in modified KM8p medium with 0.1% colchicine for 3-9 days. After colchicine treatment, they were cultured using agarose bead culture. Microcalli were recovered from the protoplasts after 3 months. Flow cytometric measurement showed that nine of 31 callus lines obtained from 6 days of colchicine treatment had twice the nuclear DNA content as non-treated controls. Plantlets were regenerated from the calli with twice the nuclear DNA content. Microscopic observation of root tip cells showed that their somatic chromosome number was 2n=180 (x=15). Compared with 'Jiro', dodecaploid plants had longer stomatal guard cells and lower stomatal densities, consistent with increased ploidy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnological Science, Faculty of Biology Oriented Science and Technology, Kinki University, Uchita, 649-64, Wakayama, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sugiura