Stomatal studies on colchicine treated bajra napier hybrids (Pennisetum glaucum × P. purpureum) Baby Juby1, Ganesan N. Meenakshi1,*, Ganesan K.N.2, Sivakumar S.D.3, Chandrasekhar C.N.4, Sobhakumari V.P.5 1Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641 003, Tamil Nadu, India 2Department of Forage Crops, Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641 003, Tamil Nadu, India 3Institute of Agriculture, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Kumulur-621 712, Tamil Nadu, India 4Directorate of Open and Distance Learning, Coimbatore-641 003, Tamil Nadu, India 5ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore-641 003, Tamil Nadu, India *Corresponding Author: Meenakshi Ganesan N., Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641 003, Tamil Nadu, India, Email: meenakshignsncbe@gmail.com
Online published on 6 November, 2023. Abstract Background This experiment was done to analyze the colchiploids obtained in two bajra napier hybrid genotypes named CO6 and TNCN 1534. Stomatal size is considered as one of the main parameters in analysing the variants developed by colchicine application. Methods Two methods were adopted for inducing polyploidy BN hybrids. In case of whole immersion method, budded setts were completely immersed in concentrations of 0.05%, 0.10%, 0.15%, 0.20% and 0.25% for 3 and 6 hours duration. In case of the cotton swab method, the nodded setts were covered with a thin layer of cotton and same five concentrations were given continuously for a period of over two days. After transplanting them in the field for 30 days, evaluation of stomatal length and width was done. Result The stomatal measurements changed with various range of concentrations and the method of application. In the case of whole immersion method, 0.20% and 0.25% concentration for 3 and 6 hours produced variants having largest width and length of stomata and also covered the largest range for mean values. In cotton swab treatment, highest range for stomatal measurements were seen at 0.20% and 0.25% concentrations. The whole immersion method was able to generate a wide range for stomatal length and width as compared to cotton swab method. Hence, it can be deciphered that whole immersion method was more effective than cotton swab method in this study. The highest concentration of 0.25% was the most effective in inducing changes in the treated plants in both the methods. Through this, we were able to identify some putative colchiploids in the study. These screened polyploids were forwarded for further analysis which were then used to identify genotypes having desirable forage and quality parameters. Top Keywords Colchicine, Colchiploids, Concentration, Pennisetum, Stomata. Top |