Micro propagation of woody plants and fruit crops constitutes a major success in the commercial application of in vitro cultures. An important aspect to be considered when deriving perennial plants from micro propagation is the maintenance of genetic integrity with regard to the mother plant. In this regard, soma clonal variation has been reported at different levels (morphological, cytological, cytochemical, biochemical, and molecular) in micro propagated plants [1]. The economic consequence of soma clonal variation among regenerated plants is enormous in fruit crops and woody plants, because they have long life cycles. In consequence, the behavior of micro propagated plants should be assessed after their long juvenile stage in field conditions. The occurrence of soma clonal variation is a matter of great concern for any micro propagation system. In order to evaluate its presence several strategies were used to detect soma clonal variants, based on one or more determinants from among morphological traits, cytogenetic analysis (numerical and structural variation in the chromosomes), and molecular and biochemical markers [2]. In addition, studies on soma clonal variation are important for its control and possible suppression with the aim of producing genetically identical plants, and for its use as a tool to produce genetic variability, which will enable breeders the genetic improvement. Soma clonal variation has been studied extensively in herbaceous plants, whereas few studies have focused on
temperate perennial fruit crops.
This chapter provides a survey of the technical approaches for identifying soma clonal variation in perennial fruit crops and is intended to provide a synthesis of the literature on the topic. In addition, recent advances in the characterization and detection of soma clonal variation in olive plants produced in vitro by nodal explants and somatic embryo genesis are reported in detail.
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