Somchai Chuan-udom and Thunyaporn Susanon

pp. 675 - 682

Abstract

Meristematic nodular calli of anthurium cv. valentino were treated with ethylmethane sulfonate
(EMS) at various concentrations for 90 min in order to find the optimum concentration (LD₅₀). Plantlets
regenerated from treated calli were grown in the field until flowering. During this period morphological
characteristics of the flower were investigated. The results revealed that EMS at concentration 0.5 and 0.75%
gave survival percentages of the calli of 60 and 34%, respectively (LD₅₀ = 0.62%). Treatment with EMS at
0.75% gave smaller size of spathe compare with the control having 14.2% yellow spadix. EMS at 1% gave
60% yellow spadix, whereas the control treatment gave pink spadix. Moreover, spadices from those treated
with EMS were shorter with more erect angle (45-90º) than the control treatment (25º). Development of
female flower was 0-50% (control treatment produced 100% female flower).

Keywords

• anthurium
• EMS
• mutation