Polyploidy Induction in German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) by Herbicide Trifluralin

Polyploidy induction in German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) by herbicide trifluralin   Leila Karami1, Mohammad Modarresi2, Mohammad Amin Kohanmoo2, Fatemeh Zahabi Ahmadi2 & Saeed Irian3 1Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Persian Gulf University, Bushehr, 7516913817, Iran; 2Department of Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Persian Gulf University, Bushehr, 7516913817, Iran; 3Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran. Correspondent author: Leila Karami, [email protected]   Abstract. Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) is a medicinal herb belonging to Asteraceae family. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of trifluralin on the induction of polyploidy in chamomile. Two independent full factorial experiments on seedlings and 2-leaf stage apical buds were performed.  Following morphological, biochemical and cytogenetic analysis, chromosome numbers of 18 and 36 were detected for diploid and tetraploid types, respectively. Morphological and biochemical examinations revealed that an increase in the number of full chromosome set results in a reduction in stomata number per unit area as well as an increase in stomata size, chloroplast number, and chlorophyll content. Induction of ploidy level increments also reduced plant height and increased the number of lateral branches, leaf size, and diameters of stems, flowers and receptacles. It is concluded that a concentration of 22.5 µM trifluralin in both methods is optimum for the production of tetraploid chamomile with the highest rate of polyploidy induction and the lowest percentage of abnormality.