The Role of Somaclonal Variation in Plant Genetic Improvement: A Systematic Review

The instability of in vitro cultures may cause genetic and epigenetic changes crops called somaclonal variations. Sometimes, these produce beneficial effects; for example, they can be used breeding programs to generate new cultivars with desirable characteristics. In this article, we present a systematic review designed answer the following question: How does variation contribute plant improvement? Five electronic databases were searched articles based on pre-established inclusion exclusion criteria standardized search string. technique has been most frequently applied ornamental plants, 49 species cited 48 articles, main agricultural crops, including sugarcane, rice, banana, potato wheat, different countries worldwide. 69 studies, was evaluate diversity generated between clones, and, 63 agronomic performance characteristics evaluated. Other studies are related resistance pathogens, abiotic stresses. application growth regulators (PGRs) benzylaminopurine (BAP) dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) common method generating somaclones, randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) molecular markers commonly identification characterization. Somaclonal improvement economically important world, supporting launch genotypes resistant diseases, pests However, much remains explored, such as mechanisms from which is derived.