LAUSR

Tissue culture for plant micropropagation is known to be a source of genetic changes termed "somaclonal variation". This protocol is designed to help in the selection of one or more types of molecular marker systems for the optimal detection and measurement of somaclonal variation. Somaclonal variation is influenced by the reproductive biology of the species, the number of individuals taken as tissue source, and the tissue culture protocol, while its detection and measurement depends upon the molecular marker system selected, which can also vary in the intensity of genome sampling. In turn, the intensity of genome sampling can be regulated varying parameters of the molecular technique. These factors are discussed and illustrated with in silico molecular marker protocols. Software, programed in R, to perform simulation and evaluation of somaclonal variation is made publicly available.