PJB-2024-118
SOMACLONAL VARIATION; AN OUTRIVAL APPROACH FOR GENETIC IMPROVEMENT IN SACCHARUM Spp.
Sana Munir
Abstract
Hybridization of different land races or wild crop species leads to genetic recombination in genetic makeup resulting in improved cultivars, especially in sexually propagated crops. On the other hand, asexually propagated crops like sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrid) pose a challenge to hybridization based genetic recombination due to self or cross incompatibility (low fertility). Sugarcane faces heavy yield losses because of substantial gap in its potential and production due to scarcity of improved cultivars leading to poor resistance to various biotic or abiotic stresses despite of its economic significance as a major contributor to sugar production globally, owing to its high sucrose content. To address this challenge, in vitro culture techniques have become an important tool for creating genetic variability in sugarcane, which can be utilized in breeding programs to develop new cultivars with improved stress resistance. Somaclonal variation is a complex phenomenon resulting from various genetic and cellular mechanisms under in vitro conditions; assist as a better approach for genetic improvement in sugarcane. Desirable somaclonal variants in sugarcane with abiotic/biotic stress tolerance have already been reported. Nonetheless, rapid detection of somaclonal variation at an early stage through molecular markers can be more beneficial, as it helps to select or eliminate a variant at an early stage, thus minimizing financial loss and time saving.
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