Mitotic aberrations in coffee (Coffea arabica cv. 'Catimor') leaf explants and their derived embryogenic calli

Andrea Menéndez-Yuffá *
Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Biología Experimental, Laboratorio de Biotecnología Vegetal
Universidad Central de Venezuela
Apartado 47114, Los Chaguaramos, Caracas 1041, Venezuela
Fax 7535897
E-mail: amenendez@cantv.net

Rafael Fernandez Da Silva
Facultad de Ciencias, Postgrado en Biología- Area Botánica, Instituto de Biología Experimental
Universidad Central de Venezuela
Apartado 47114, Los Chaguaramos, Caracas 1041, Venezuela
Fax 7535897
E-mail: rafaelfer@telcel.net.ve

Liliana Rios
Facultad de Ciencias, Postgrado en Biología- Area Botánica, Instituto de Biología Experimental
Universidad Central de Venezuela
Apartado 47114, Los Chaguaramos, Caracas 1041, Venezuela
Fax 7535897
E-mail: lrios@latinmail.com

Nereida Xena de Enrech
Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Biología Experimental, Laboratorio de Biosistemática y Citogenética Vegetal
Universidad Central de Venezuela,
Apartado 47114, Los Chaguaramos, Caracas 1041, Venezuela
Fax 7535897
E-mail: nxena@reacciun.ve

*Corresponding author

Keywords: Coffee, Cytogenetics, Mitotic aberrations, Plant tissue culture, Somatic embryogenesis.

Dividing cells of leaves used as sources of explants from coffee plants (Coffea arabica cv. 'Catimor') and those of their derived calli were analyzed for mitotic aberrations. The studied tissues were prepared by squashing and stained with carbolfuchsin. A total of 1551 leaf and 4568 callus cells were surveyed. The majority (79 %) of leaf and calli (75 %) cells showed normal mitosis, however, cells with mitotic abnormalities were also found in both tissues. These included: polyploids, aneuploids, sticky chromosomes, double prophases and lagging chromosomes. Additionally, interphase cells with micronuclei or binucleated were also observed. The frequencies of these abnormalities were statistically different in calli and leaves. Calli showed a few other abnormalities such as c-mitosis, chained chromosomes, multipolar metaphases and chromosome bridges. Therefore, we conclude that these pre-existing abnormalities originate by errors in the process of normal mitosis in both leaves and in calli, and are therefore not caused by tissue culture conditions.