Variation and Morphogenetic Characteristics of Different Stachys Species during Microclonal Propagation

Abstract

Morphogeneses of Stachys different species introduced in culturing in vitro have been compared. The frequency of altered forms have been demonstrated to be related to the plant genotype. All regenerants of S. sieboldii, which reproduces in vivo only vegetatively, are phenotypically normal, irrespective of the concentrations of plant growth regulators at which they have been obtained. Only changes in isozyme patterns have been observed in the regenerants grown in media containing at least 10 mg/l benzyl aminopurine (BAP); most of these changes are the absence of a particular component of the pattern. The cross-pollinating species Stachys ocymastrum, which typically reproduces by seeds, has yielded morphologically altered forms even in phytohormone-free media; its isozyme patterns often contained a new component. Analysis of the isoperoxidase patterns of regenerants of both Stachys species obtained with the use of high phytohormone concentrations has demonstrated qualitative and quantitative changes suggesting the appearance of somaclonal variants even in the course of plant regeneration directly from nodal segments, bypassing callus formation. Changes have also been found in Stachys plants regenerating from the callus tissue.