In vitro Gynogenic Plant Production in Allium tuncelianum (Kollman) Özhatay, Matthew & Şiraneci

Abstract Allium tuncelianum (Kollman) Özhatay, Matthew & Şiraneci forms a single-cloved edible white bulb with mild garlic (A. sativum) odour and taste. Its ability to form seeds make it suitable for genetic improvement via classical and modern approaches. A detailed study was carried out to determine the gynogenesis potential of two A. tuncelianum (AT1 and AT2) accessions. Unopened flower buds of A. tuncelianum accessions were cultured in various BDS- and MS-based induction media. A total of 17 (0.09%) gynogenic plantlets were obtained from ~20000 flower buds used in gynogenesis induction experiment. Accessions showed slight differences in their responses to gynogenesis induction cultures. The highest gynogenic plantlet production frequency (0.34 %) in AT1 was achieved flower buds cultured in T12 medium (MS with 100 g/L sucrose, 1 mg/L a-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and 8 mg/L isopentenyl adenine (2IP). Flower buds of AT2 showed the highest gynogenic plantlet production response (0.44 %) in T2 medium (BDS with 50 g/L sucrose). Eight of 17 gynogenic plantlets continued to grow and became healthy plants with green leaves and well established roots. Flow cytometric (FCM) analysis of well-developed gynogenic plants showed that two were haploid (25 %), four were diploid (50 %), and two were mixoploid (25 %) for haploid and diploid cells. Nine gynogenic plantlets showing abnormal development were diploid. Therefore, formation of gynogenic plantlets with abnormal phenotypes was likely due to genetic factors. Results obtained from this study suggest use of DH technology in the production of homozygous A. tuncelianum inbreeds in variety improvement programs.