Relative stability among barley plants regenerated from cultured immature embryos

Relative genetic stability was observed among barley plants regenerated from cultured immature embryos. Regenerated plants were studied cytologically and their seed progenies assayed for (i) the isoenzymes esterase and glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase, (ii) ribosomal DNA spacer length polymorphism, and (iii) hordein patterns on SDS–PAGE. Of 42 regenerated plants, 1 regenerant had abnormal meiosis and the same plant produced one seed with a variant hordein pattern. These findings are discussed in relation to the factors affecting somaclonal variation in cereals and to methods of assaying the variation.