Somaclonal variation appears in plants _____. a)Raised in tissue cultureb)Transformed by recombinant DNA methodc)Growing in polluted waterd)Exposed to gamma raysCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Question

Answer

Somaclonal variation is the variation seen in plants that have been produced by plant tissue culture. Chromosomal rearrangements are an important source of this variation. The term somaclonal variation is a phenomenon of broad taxonomic occurrence, reported for species of different ploidy levels, and for outcrossing and inbreeding, vegetatively and seed propagated, and cultivated and non-cultivated plants. Characters affected include both qualitative and quantitative traits.

Answer

The clones formed from somatic cell is known as somaclones and if any variation occurs then it is known as somaclonal variation.

Answer

Somaclonal variation appears in plants Raised in tissue culture

Somaclonal variation refers to the genetic variability that arises in plants when they are grown in tissue culture. Tissue culture involves the growth of plant cells, tissues, or organs in a nutrient-rich medium under controlled laboratory conditions. This technique is commonly used for plant propagation, genetic transformation, and preservation of germplasm.

Reasons for somaclonal variation in plants raised in tissue culture:

1. Genetic instability: Tissue culture conditions can induce genetic instability in plants due to a variety of factors such as hormonal imbalances, nutrient deficiencies or excesses, osmotic stress, and physical damage during the process of tissue culture. These factors can cause mutations or changes in the plant's genetic material.

2. Epigenetic changes: Tissue culture can also lead to epigenetic changes in plants. Epigenetics refers to modifications in gene expression without altering the underlying DNA sequence. These changes can be caused by alterations in DNA methylation patterns or histone modifications, which can affect gene regulation and lead to phenotypic variations.

3. Regeneration pathway: The process of tissue culture involves the regeneration of whole plants from small pieces of plant tissue. This regeneration process can sometimes bypass normal developmental pathways, leading to the production of plants with altered characteristics. These regenerated plants may exhibit somaclonal variations compared to the original plant.

4. Chromosomal rearrangements: Tissue culture can induce chromosomal rearrangements in plant cells. These rearrangements can result in changes in gene structure, gene expression, or chromosome number, leading to somaclonal variation in the regenerated plants.

5. Selection pressure: During tissue culture, plants are subjected to artificial selection pressure in the form of specific growth conditions, such as high hormone concentrations or exposure to certain chemicals. This selective pressure can favor the survival and growth of cells with specific genetic or epigenetic changes, leading to the emergence of somaclonal variation in the regenerated plants.

In conclusion, somaclonal variation appears in plants raised in tissue culture due to genetic instability, epigenetic changes, alterations in regeneration pathways, chromosomal rearrangements, and selection pressure. These variations can result in plants with novel traits or characteristics, which can be both advantageous and disadvantageous for plant breeding and genetic improvement programs.

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