A practical guide to inducing polyploidy in plants using colchicine, with clear, step-by-step methods you can try in a lab or garden setting.
This book compiles methods for treating seeds, shoots, buds, bulbs, and day-lilies to produce polyploid changes. It explains how to recognize effective treatments, what to watch for in growth and leaf appearance, and how to propagate any polyploid sectors you discover. The information is presented with practical notes, cautions, and references to established techniques.
- Learn how to prepare and apply colchicine solutions to different plant parts, including seeds, shoots, buds, bulbs, and corms.
- Understand how to judge treatment effectiveness by visible growth changes and leaf texture, and how to propagate confirmed polyploid material.
- Discover tips for improving penetration and reducing plant mortality during treatment, plus notes on plant types where outcomes are more reliable.
- Get guidance on evaluating risks, limitations, and potential outcomes to avoid unproductive work.
Ideal for readers of horticulture guides, plant breeders, and students seeking practical, hands-on methods for polyploid induction.