Selection of biochemical mutants in plant cell cultures: Some considerations

Abstract

The availability of diverse biochemical mutants for use as experimental probes in higher plants has been limited. Nevertheless, the importance of mutants in furthering the understanding of plant processes and in crop improvement has encouraged the development of numerous mutation selection methodologies that exploit the advantages of the plant cell culture technologies; examples of successful efforts to select mutants in plant cell culture systems are accumulating. We have also recognized that the mutation selection methodologies that have proven useful with microbes may not be as successful when applied to plant cell culture systems. It is necessary to establish the basis (whether genetic, epigenetic, or a sorting out of a specific cell type) of the variant phenotype. Thorough characterization of the frequency (with and without mutagenic treatment), stability and biochemical properties of a variant cell line will aid in establishing the basis of the altered phenotype, even in the absence of a direct genetic analysis through meiosis. Further research on the selection of specific types of biochemical mutants using various plant cell, tissue and organ will likely produce additional useful higher plant mutants.