Characterization of some chromosomal aberrations in regenerated rice plants (Oryza sativa)

Somaclonal variation was studied in two Iranian land races of O. sativa spp. japonica var Hassani and O. sativa spp. indica var Sadridomsiah and 2000 plants of each cultivar were cytogenetically examined in two steps. In the first step, chromosome counts of root tips was used to detect ploidy levels and aneuploids of regenerated plants. In the second step, chromosomal aberrations were characterized by pachytene analysis of PMC's. Ploidy levels were seen between n and 4n (haploids to tetraploids) in both cultivars with diploid resource (2n = 2x = 24). The total rate of variation for Hassani (japonica) was 13.7% including 10.8% for changes in chromosome number (ploidy levels and aneuploids) and 2.9% for chromosomal aberrations such as deficiency. A total rate of variation for Sadridomsiah (indica) was 15.6% including 12.4% for change in numbers and 3.2% for aberrations in construction. Most of important cytological mutations were observed in various chromosomes among regenerated plants of cultivars. Neither nullisomics nor inversions were distinguished in any samples