Effect of Colchicine Concentration and Duration of Treatment on Polyploidy Induction in Shallot (Allium cepa L., Aggregatum Group)

Abstract

     Local shallot (Allium cepa L. ), Aggregatum group) variety grown in Kinh Mon, Hai Duong was treated with colchicine in order to produce polyploid materials for high-quality shallot breeding in Viet Nam. The research was carried out at Faculty of Agronomy, Vietnam National University of Agriculture. The shallot bulbs were immersed in colchicine solution with different concentrations (0,2%; 0,4%; 0,6%; 0,8%; 1,0%; 1,2%; 1,4%; 1.6%; 1,8%; 2,0%) for one to ten days. The results revealed that colchicine treatment at concentration 1,0% for 6 days was most suitable for inducing tetraploid shallot plants with survival rate of 80%. The percentage of tetraploids was 20% in total treated bulbs. Treatment at higher concentration and longer duration increased the percentage of dead plants up to 100%. Thirty six tetraploid plants of shallot were produced.