Fruit Set and Plant Regeneration in Cassava Following Inter specific Pollination with Castor Bean
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Date
2019
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
African Crop Science Journal
Abstract
The increasing demand for cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) for food and non-food uses in the
tropics necessitates that its breeding for increased root productivity be made faster. The characteristic
long breeding cycle and heterozygous nature of this crop, pose a major obstacle to its rapid genetic
improvement. This study aimed at inter-pollinating cassava with castor bean (Ricinus communis),
with a purpose of inducing and regenerating cassava doubled haploids (DHs). A total of 3,349 flowers
from twelve elite cassava varieties were inter-pollinated with caster bean. A total of 803 fruits were
harvested for early embryo rescue and/or ovule culture. Of these, three were dissected to obtain seven
unique embryos, while 800 were dissected to obtain 1312 young ovules, all of which were cultured in
vitro. Overall, 82 (6.25%) of the cultured ovules formed callus that originated from the embryosac
region, which is haploid. Four out of seven rescued embryos (57.1%) regenerated into plantlets.
Ploidy analyses of 24 samples using flow cytometry revealed that 23 of the analysed samples were
diploid. However, one callus sample was anueploid. Only one sample had an exceptionally high level
of homozygosity ( 84.2%). These findings lay a foundation for future research aimed at induction of
haploids in cassava.
Description
Keywords
Doubled haploid, Embryo rescue, Ovule culture, Ploidy
Citation
Baguma, J. K., Mukasa, S. B., Kawuki, R., Tugume, A. K., Buttibwa, M., Nalela, P., ... & Baguma, Y. (2019). Fruit set and plant regeneration in cassava following interspecific pollination with castor bean. African Crop Science Journal, 27(1), 99-118. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/acsj.v27i1.8