DEVELOPMENT OF IN VITRO SOMACLONAL VARIATION FOR PELARGONIUM GRAVEOLENS L’HERIT, AIT

In vitro somaclonal variation via callus is considered as one of the most effective tool for improvement of vegetative propagated crops. Different combinations of cytokinine (BA) and auxine (NAA) were used to induce somaclonal variation from leaf explants of the Egyptian geranium cultivar, Pelargonium graveolens L’Herit, Ait. El Qanater El khayria cv.8. Callus induction and regenerated shoots from callus were evaluated; 2.5 mg/L BA and 0.5 mg/L NAA was the optimal for callus induction and number of regenerated shoots. The obtained plantlets were acclimatized under glasshouse conditions with 80% to 90% survival and were transferred to the open field. The evaluation of growth traits and oil analysis were done for the new 13 clones compared with the mother plant in randomized block design for two successive seasons. Characterization of these new clones for morphological traits and essential oil yield and quality demonstrated the induction of variability in negative and positive directions in some characteristics in comparison with the mother plant. Clone no.7 was the superior clone in herb 2264.7 & 2357.3 g/plant and oil yield 2.436 & 3.065 ml/plant in first and second season, respectively, than the mother plant and other new clones with acceptable content of citronellol 25.63% and geraniol 26.52% as a parameter for volatile oil quality. The genetic variation of the new geranium clones were tested using SRAP technique based on  PCR, the polymorphism was detected using 16  pairs of SRAP primers in combinations as forward and reverse. The genetic differences between new clones and the mother plant were ascertained with SRAP primer pair (me2 em4); a unique profile for clone no.7 was detected in SRAP analysis. The similarity percentage varied between 66.7% to 100% homologies among the new clones and their mother plant. The presence of genetic variation between new clones and the mother plant proved that the calliclones were somaclonal mutants, and the geranium cultivar, El Qanater El khayria cv.8, was improved for high yield in herb and essential oil.