Somaclonal variation studies in <i>Orthosiphon stamineus</i> (Benth.) using SDS-PAGE

Abstract

The present investigation was intended to reveal somaclonal variation in <i>Orthosiphon stamineus</i> Benth. using SDS-PAGE as a tool. For electrophoretic studies, the proteins were isolated from mother plants, <i>in vitro</i> plantlets raised through nodal segments and plantlets regenerated from the leaf-derived calli of <i>Orthosiphon stamineus</i>, and separated using SDS-PAGE. Mother plants and nodal-segment derived plantlets were confirmed for their genetic uniformity by expressing similar banding pattern in the gel system. The proteins PP1² (0.08), PP2² (0.15), PP3² (0.25) and PP5¹ (0.41) showed their unique presence in plantlets regenerated from leaf derived calli and confirmed the occurrence of somoclonal variants. These protein profiles would be used as a biochemical marker for plant breeding or genetic improvement programme in future to identify mother plants and somaclonal variants of <i> O. stamineus.</i>