Somaclonal Variation as a Tool for the Improvement of Perennial Fruit Crops

Abstract

Somaclonal variation has proved useful in the improvement of certain agricultural crops, but its applicability to perennial fruit crops has not yet been demonstrated. At present, fruit crop improvement via somaclonal variation is limited by our ability to manipulate and regenerate popular clones in vitro. Rapid progress is being made in plant tissue culture techniques but little information is available on the full range of somaclonal variation that can be induced and on the various parameters that influence it. Even though our understanding of tissue culture-induced variation is limited, fruit crop breeders with amendable in vitro systems that desire to modify existing cultivars in small, discrete ways, may want to consider the use of somaclonal variation in their programs.