ISHS Acta Horticulturae 650: I International Symposium on Saffron Biology and Biotechnology
COLCHICINE INDUCED VARIABILITY IN SAFFRON |
| Authors: | G. Zaffar, S.A. Wani, T. Anjum, N.A. Zeerak |
| Keywords: | colchiploidy, Crocus sativus, morphological/anatomical variants, stomatal index |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.2004.650.31 |
| Abstract:
In an effort to overcome the sterility barrier in autotriploid (2n=3x=24) saffron (Crocus sativus L.) the present study was undertaken to induce polyploidy by colchinization. Colchicine was applied to the emerging apical buds of saffron corms at 0.05, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 per cent aqueous concentration employing cotton plugs for 48 hrs (12 hrs for 4 consecutive days). Studies on developmental, morphological and leaf anatomical characters of Co, C1 generation showed that the colchiploids exhibited delayed flower and leaf emergence. The leaves were thicker, shorter somewhat flat-ridgeless, coarser in feature and darker green in colour with reduction in number of leaves per plant. Stomatal studies revealed decrease in number with a concomitant increase in size of stomata in C1 generation. There was reduction in the number of flowers per plant, floral variants observed included smaller sized flowers, irregularly shaped/reduced tepal number, lobed and dentate tepals, flowers with deep pigmentation in stigmas extending to stylar regions and orange red pigmented anthers. The hereditary behaviour of the variants will be further studied in C2 generation in the ensuing flowering season. | |
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