Mutation studies on carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus, L.)

Abstract

The field experiments were carried out during 1998,1999 and 2000 in the Floriculture and Ornamental Horticulture Research Branch, Antoniades Botanical Garden, Horticultural Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Alexandria, Egypt. Biochemical analysis including isoenzymes analysis and total chlorophyll content were carried out in Genetic laboratories, Agricultural Botany Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Saba Basha, Alexandria University. Chloroplast ultrastructure was carried out in Transmission Electron Microscope unite, Medical Research Institute, • Alexandria University. Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA analysis was carried out in Nucleic Acid Research Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Institute (GEBRI), Mubarak City For scientific Research (MCSR), Alexandria, Egypt. In the preliminary study, healthy and uniform terminal cuttings of four

Dianthus caryophyllus,L. cultivars with different colours namely: "Grenadin red"," Grenadin dark red"," Grenadin scarlet red" and " Grenadin pink" were exposed to gamma-irradiation doses of 0,2,4,6 and/or 8 K.rad administrated at the rate of 5.6 rad I sec. Irradiation treatments were carried out in the irradiation Co60 unite at the Middle East Regional-Isotope Center for the Arab Countries at El-Dokky, Cairo, Egypt. Two hundred irradiated cuttings

of each cultivar were planted in green house for rooting and to assess their radiosensitivity. Then the survival cuttings, which were succeeded in rooting, were transplanted in open field and put under observation for further four months. Water-soaked seeds of carnation Dianthus caryophyllus,L. cultivar

"Grenadin red" were exposed to gamma-irradiation doses of 0,2,4,6 and/or 8

K.rad administrated at the rate of 5.6 rad I sec.