Induction, rapid fixation and retention of mutations in vegetatively propagated banana.

ABSTRACT: Mutation discovery technologies have enabled the development of reverse genetics for many plant species and allowed sophisticated evaluation of the consequences of mutagenesis. Such methods are relatively straightforward for seed-propagated plants. To develop a platform suitable for vegetatively propagated species, we treated isolated banana shoot apical meristems with the chemical mutagen ethyl methanesulphonate, recovered plantlets and screened for induced mutations. A high density of GC-AT transition mutations were recovered, similar to that reported in seed-propagated polyploids. Through analysis of the inheritance of mutations, we observed that genotypically heterogeneous stem cells resulting from mutagenic treatment are rapidly sorted to fix a single genotype in the meristem. Further

SUBMITTER: Jankowicz-Cieslak J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3533788 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature