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Somaclonal Variation

Spontaneous changes in the properties of plants being cultured in vitro

There are many reasons for spontaneous somaclonal variation. The causes can include point mutations, loss of genes, and chromosomal rearrangement. They may express themselves by altering traits controlled by many different genes (polygenic).

Somaclonal variation can be used for plant breeding. Positive effects of somoclonal variation are nevertheless often accompanied by undesirable mutations.

Varieties developed by somaclonal variation exist for tomatoes, potatoes, sugar cane and others.

Somaclonal variation can potentially occur when plants are being regenerated from selected, successfully genetically transformed cells.