Phenotypic variability in the field of <i>Saccharum</i> spp. hybrid cv. ‘C87-51’plants regenerated via somatic embryogenesis

Abstract

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is a crop of great economic importance that has been propagated by tissue culture through organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis. The present research had as objective to determine the phenotypic variability in the field of sugar cane cv. 'C87-51' plants obtained by somatic embryogenesis in liquid culture media. Plants regenerated from somatic embryos were planted in the field next to plants propagated via organogenesis and from cuttings that were used as control. The evaluations were carried out seven months after planting in cane plant and first shoot and the variables evaluated were stem height, stem diameter, number of stems per seedlings, number of active leaves per stem and Brix. Besides, morphological characteristics were described. Plants out of type were not found in the evaluated populations. The results demonstrated that the plant regeneration pathway significantly influences the development of plants under field conditions. The propagation of sugarcane plants cv. 'C87-51' by somatic embryogenesis in liquid culture medium only induces phenotypic changes in field associated with in vitro rejuvenation similar to those previously reported for plants obtained by organogenesis. Therefore, it can be used as a method of mass propagation of plants. Keywords: bioreactor, somatic embryos, somaclonal variation, sugarcane