Somaclonal Variation in Regenerants Derived from Anther Culture of Rice (Oryza sativa L. )

Abstract

Somaclonal variation in heading date, protein content in brown rice and regeneration ability was examined in regenerants derived from anther culture of rice (Oryza sativa L.). Regenerants were highly homozygous, and the variances in culm length and 1000 grain weight among panicle-row lines of A₂ (the second generation after chromosome duplication of the progeny derived from anther culture) were smaller than those in their parents. Some A₂ regenerants headed earlier than their F₂ population. In some regenerants derived from anther culture of cv. Asahi, protein content in brown rice was lower, and the heading date was earlier than those in cv. Asahi. By successive anther culture (using regenerant successively) of cv. Shirayukihime (developed by anther culture), regenerants with higher regeneration ability than that of Shirayukihime were obtained. Therefore, anther culture was proven to be quite useful as a mutation breeding method.