Abstracto

Somaclonal variations in an endangered and medicinally important cucurbit, Citrullus colosynthis (L.) Schrad

T.Shasthree, R.Savitha, B.Mallaiah

Somaclonal variations were studied in in vitro regenerated plants of an endangered cucurbit, Citrullus colosynthis (L.) commonly known as ‘bitter apple’. It is a medicinally important plant used as a antirheumatic, anthelminthic and its exractive ‘colosynth’ is a very strong laxative. Roots are used in urinary diseases, mammalitis and opthalmia. Its exract cucurbitacin glucosides inhibit growth of human breast cancer. During in vitro mutagenesis and regeneration studies a number of somaclones have been isolated and characterized. Regenerated plants fromR0 are scored for the identification of variant plants in R1 and R2 generation. During these studies a number of variations in habit, leaf and tendrillar character, floral somaclones like androecious, gynoecious, andro monoecious and andro gynoecious were isolated. Variation in fruit number, sizes, colours, and seed coat colours were also screened.