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Nuclear DNA content of Vitis vinifera cultivars and ploidy level analyses of somatic embryo-derived plants obtained from anther culture.

Leal F, Loureiro J, Rodriguez E, Pais MS, Santos C, Pinto-Carnide O

Center of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.

Flow cytometry was employed to determine the ploidy level of Vitis vinifera L. somatic embryo-derived plants obtained from anther culture. Only one among the 41 analysed plants (2.4%) presented somaclonal variation (tetraploidy); the other plants were diploid. No significant differences (P<or=0.05) were detected between diploid and parental field plants. No haploid or aneuploid plants were observed. The nuclear DNA content of nine V. vinifera cultivars was also estimated using flow cytometry. A non-significant variation was found among the cultivars, with DNA content ranging from 1.17 pg/2C (cv. 'Tinta Barroca' and 'Viosinho') to 1.26 pg/2C (cv. 'Cabernet Sauvignon'). These results and previous studies on other Vitis species suggest that Vitis genome is stable with regard to nuclear DNA content.

Published 16 August 2006 in Plant Cell Rep, 25(9): 978-85.
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