Investigation of parthenogenesis through irradiated pollen method using in vitro and histological techniques in cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum L.)

Improving new cyclamen purelines via classical methods is time-consuming and quite difficult process due to the problems in plant fertilization biology. In vitro haploidisation and in situ parthenogenesis techniques are used to overcome these problems. In this thesis, in situ parthenogenesis was tested in cyclamen first time and the effects of different irradiation doses on pollen viability, pollen germination and embryo formation after pollination with irradiated pollens were investigated. Flower buds were irradiated with different dosages of gamma light (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 300, 450 Gy) using Co-60source. The flower buds pollinated with irradiated pollens were collected after pollination and appropriate developmental stages of the embryo for embryo rescue (ovule culture) determined via histological studies. As a result, the first zygote/embryo development was determined on 20th day after pollination. Pollen viability rates were slightly affected by irradiation doses. The highest pollen viability rate was 87%, while the lowest was 82%. In vitro germination rates were significantly affected and the highest germination rate was 65%, while the lowest was 31%. The highest plantlets induction rates in ovule culture were 2.66% and 2.00% obtained from the applications of 0 Gy + ½ MS+0.5 mgL-1 Kin and 100 Gy + ½ MS+0.5 mgL-1 Kin respectively.