Genetic analysis of chlorophyll-deficient somaclonal variants in rye

Albino plants have been observed among regenerated plants from immature embryo calluses in four cultivars of rye. The frequency of albino plants was very similar between the plants regenerated from embryogenic (8.78%) or organogenic (12.06%) cultures. However, these frequencies varied widely between cultivars (from 0 to 23.46%). On the other hand, 12% of the green regenerated plants segregated in their progeny plants with chlorophyll deficiencies, and most of these mutations segregated as we can expect a Mendelian trait to do. The behaviour of the regenerated plants from cv. Ailes was particularly interesting, because the appearance of a particular phenotype could be related to the in vitro activation of a transposable element.Key words: Secale cereale, regeneration, somaclonal variation, albino plants, transposable elements.