Ploidy screening of anthurium (Anthurium andreanum Linden ex André) regenerants derived from anther culture

Anther culture was successfully developed in Anthurium andreanum Linden ex André cv. ‘Tropical’, but resulted in variation in morphology and growth response of regenerants. Ploidy levels varied in different morphological variants. Finding a convenient, rapid, reliable, practical and indirect method to screen and determine anthurium ploidy level is important not only for anthurium, but for ornamentals in general. Regenerants derived from anther culture showing three different ploidy levels (haploids, diploids, triploids) were used in this study. Five indirect methods were used to assess chromosome number: chloroplast number in stomatal guard cells (M1), stomatal length and width ratio (M2), stomatal density (M3), ratio of length and width of leaves (M4), and microspore number per anther (M5). These were compared to chromosome counting as the direct and control method (M6). Through simple regression correlation analysis, when compared to M6, M1 was the most convenient and reliable indirect method to determine the ploidy level. This method was highly and significantly positively correlated to anthurium ploidy level (r = 0.945; p < 0.01). This method could also be applied much faster than the conventional chromosome method.

Research highlights▶ To allow scientists to assess ploidy in plant material with simpler methods, we have assessed five simple, cheap and easy-to-effect methods for determining ploidy. ▶ By applying statistical analyses we have shown clear differences in the effectiveness of these methods, which could be ranked. ▶ The methods, one of which was extremely effective, were used to assess haploidy, diploidy and triploidy in tissue culture anther regenerants of Anthurium, although the risk of chimerism cannot be excluded.