ABSTRACT
Plant cells can be cultured in vitro and plants can be regenerated from the cultured cells. These regenerants show variability, and some of the variable characters are heritable. These heritable characters also include disease resistance. In vitro selections from calluses, somaclones, gametoclones, organ cultures, and somatic hybrids have resulted in developing disease-resistant plants. However, in vitro selection requires proper selective agents. Furthermore, gene silencing appears to be common among somaclones. Most of the somaclonal variations are due to epigenetic changes, and DNA modifications in the somaclones are not very stable. However, some studies report stability of somaclonal characteristics for several generations. In vitro selection can be one alternative technology for breeders to develop highyielding and disease-resistant varieties, particularly when useful genes are not available in the germplasm for improvement of the cultivars.
