Somaklonális

Somaklonális refers to organisms, typically plants, that are propagated vegetatively from cell cultures in vitro. This process, known as somaclonal variation, involves taking explants (small pieces of plant tissue) and growing them in a sterile nutrient medium. Under specific hormonal and environmental conditions, these cells can dedifferentiate into callus, an undifferentiated mass of cells, and then redifferentiate into whole plants.

The key characteristic of somaclonal variants is that they originate from a single parent plant, making them genetically identical to the parent at the molecular level. However, during the process of tissue culture, spontaneous genetic and epigenetic changes can occur. These alterations can lead to variations in traits such as yield, disease resistance, flowering time, or other morphological characteristics. This phenomenon is known as somaclonal variation.

While somaclonal variation can be a source of desirable new traits for plant breeding, it also presents challenges. The variations can be unpredictable and may not always be beneficial. Therefore, careful screening and selection are necessary to identify and utilize useful somaclonal variants. The ability to generate large numbers of genetically identical plants rapidly, combined with the potential for induced variation, makes somaclonal propagation a valuable tool in plant biotechnology and commercial horticulture.