Identification of somaclonal variation using peroxidase and microsatellite markers in Eucalyptus microtheca F. Muell

The objectives of this study were to induce somaclonal variation and linked investigation of biochemical and molecular markers in Eucalyptus microtheca under in vitro culture. Explants derived from twigs obtained from of E. microtheca one year-old seedling were cultured on modified MS medium (without half-strength KNO3 and NH4NO3), supplemented with different concentrations of NAA, Kin and TDZ hormones. Peroxidase patterns were studied among regenerated plantlets to investigate possible effects of TDZ concentrations on peroxidase activity. A dimer locus, a tetramer locus and two epigenetic bands were observed. Genome variation among somaclonal plantlets were investigated using microsatellite markers. Two SSR markers revealed polymorphism among the studied populations. Nonparametric statistical analysis showed significant effect of SSRs loci on peroxidase alleles. Results showed less stability of dimer locus in different concentrations of TDZ in comparison of the tetramer locus. Moreover, there was stronger correlation between tetramer locus alleles and simple sequence repeats than dimer ones.