Effect of Plant Tissue Culture Media on the Frequency of Somatic Mutations in Tradescantia Stamen Hairs

The mutagenicity of the plant tissue culture medium and its hormonal composition was tested in the Tradescantia stamen hair system. Although this system is highly sensitive to chemical mutagens, no alteration was observed in the frequency of somatic mutations following direct application of the culture medium to Tradescantia inflorescences regardless of its hormonal composition. It is suggested that plant tissue culture media have no direct effect on the induction of mutations in cells cultured in vitro.