抄録
Traditionally, tetraploids have been generated asexually using a genome-doubling agent, such as colchicine. Seeds and apical buds of seedlings of sesame (Sesamum indicum L., 2n=26) were treated with colchicine solutions of different concentrations for different durations. No polyploidy could be obtained in the seed treatment process, while Seedling treatment resulted in five autotetraploid plants at 0.5% concentration for 3 consecutive day's treatment along with the recovery of 12hrs each day. The morphology (plant height, number of branches, number of capsules, days to flowering, days to maturity, seed weight etc), cytology, pollen fertility and seed setting of induced autotetraploid plants (4n=52) and diploids (2n=26) have been analyzed. Pollen fertility and stomatal frequency registered a decrease over diploids while size of pollen grain and stomata increased in the autotetraploids. Meiotic studies of the autotetraploids revealed a number of uni-, bi-, and multivalents. The present study was undertaken to induce genome doubling in sesame under green house conditions, so as to develop a suitable protocol for the maximum recovery of autotetraploids and an economic use of colchicine.
