Nuclear DNA content of Vitis vinifera cultivars and ploidy level analyses of somatic embryo-derived plants obtained from anther culture

• Author(s): Leal, F.; Loureiro, J.; Pais, M.; Pinto-Carnide, O.; Rodriguez, E.; Santos, C.;
• Abstract: Flow cytometry was employed to determine the ploidy level of Vitis vinifera L. somatic embryo-derived plants obtained from anther culture. Only one among the 41 analysed plants (2.4%) presented somaclonal variation (tetraploidy); the other plants were diploid. No significant differences (P/=0.05) were detected between diploid and parental field plants. No haploid or aneuploid plants were observed. The nuclear DNA content of nine V. vinifera cultivars was also estimated using flow cytometry. A non-significant variation was found among the cultivars, with DNA content ranging from 1.17 pg/2C (cv. Tinta Barroca and Viosinho) to 1.26 pg/2C (cv. Cabernet Sauvignon). These results and previous studies on other Vitis species suggest that Vitis genome is stable with regard to nuclear DNA content.
• Publication Date: Apr 2006
• Journal: Plant Cell Rep