SOMACLONAL VARIATION OF CHRYSANTHEMUM PROPAGATED in vitro FROM DIFFERENT EXPLANTS TYPES

In order to find a more efficient source of somaclones we performed a regen- eration of adventitious shoots from two explant types, leaves and internodes, in eight chrysanthemum cultivars representing three groups consisted of original cultivars and their radiomutants. After the in vitro regeneration and growth, plants were transferred to the glasshouse and the phenotypes at anthesis were observed. Three new, attractive vari- ants with changed inflorescence colours were obtained from two cultivars ('Albugo' and 'Alchimist Tubular') from leaf explants. The frequency of somaclones was 1.1% for 'Al- bugo' and 5.4% for 'Alchimist Tubular'. The analysis of pigment content in ligulate flo- rets revealed the presence of carotenoids in somaclones, while in control plants they were lacking. The genetic distinctiveness of new somaclones was corroborated with the estima- tion of the genetic similarity coefficients based on RAPD-PCR technique. Somaclones re- tained their phenotypes during subsequent vegetative propagations.