Flow cytometry analysis on colchicine induced polyploid of Katokkon peppers (Capsicum chinense Jacq.)

A preliminary study was conducted to determine the ploidy level of Katokkon pepper after colchicine induction using flow cytometry analysis. Compared to squash method, flow cytometry analysis can provide effectively faster results of the ploidy levels of the cells. The research was conducted at the Laboratory of Plant Bioscience and Reproduction Biotechnology, Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Hasanuddin University Makassar. Polyploidy of the Katokkon pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) were induced by immersing the seeds in colchicine solution at concentrations of 0.00%, 0.0125%, 0.025%, 0.050% (w/v). For each concentration, an immersion time of 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5 hours were employed, respectively. Ploidy level was analyzed using the flow cytometer machine (Partec® Cy-Flow Space). The resulting histogram of the analysis shows differences between control (0.00%) and the rest of Colchicine treatment. Based on the peak position on the histogram, the colchicine concentration and their various immersion time given did not produce tetraploid (4n) plants. Nevertheless, at 0.10% colchicine concentration with all immersion times, it was obtained mixoploid plants with 2n and 4n pairs of chromosomes.