Question

Which of the following is not true?

• A. Virus-free plants can be produced by meristem culture.
• B. Somaclonal variations may be present in plants produced from callus.
• C. Somaclonal variations are caused due to recombination during meiosis.
• D. Cellular totipotency was first demonstrated by F.C. Steward

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

Somaclonal variation is defined as genetic variation observed among the progeny of plants regenerated from somatic cells cultured in vitro. Although theoretically, all plants regenerated from somatic cells should be clones, a number of observations have indicated that this is not the case. In addition to the basic genetic implications of this phenomenon, the variation has proven useful in breeding programs of various crop plants. Meiosis is not involved in somaclonal variation.