Effects of polyploidy induction on the performance of anise (Pimpinella anisum L.)

Plant chromosome manipulation is a powerful tool in plant breeding due to its significant impact on various genetic traits and diversity. To investigate the effect of polyploidy induction in anise (Pimpinella anisum L.), three different concentrations (۰.۰۱%, ۰.۵%, and ۵%) of colchicine were tested. In this study, the seeds and terminal buds of five-week-old plants were treated with colchicine, and the process was repeated for three consecutive days. Subsequently, molecular, physiological, and morphological traits of both control (diploid) and induced (autotetraploid) plants were investigated. The results revealed that ۰.۰۱% colchicine had no significant effect on ploidy induction, while significant effects were observed at ۰.۵% and ۵%.  Seedlings treated with concentrations higher than ۰.۵% colchicine exhibited larger stomatal size, lower stomatal density, and darker leaf color. In addition, the contents of DNA, RNA, and total protein increased in seedlings treated with concentrations of ۰.۵% and ۵%. Karyotype observation confirmed polyploidy induction in plants treated with colchicine concentrations above ۰.۵%.  Overall, this study shows that  colchicine  can alter anise plants’ ploidy by ۰.۵% and ۵% and  boostleaf size and pigments associated with photosynthesis, resulting in stronger plants.

Keywords:

Medical plants , Pigment content , Nucleic acid content , Ploidy level , Plant vigor