Gamma ray induced effects in in vitro mammillaria san angelensis (CACTACEAE)

The nearly extinct Mammillaria san angelensis has been recovered in vitro and large quantities of individuals are growing successfully in the greenhouse, however due to its axillary shoot proliferation origin the genetic make-up of this species is extremely narrow. For this reason is urgently required to increase its genetic variability. The induction of point mutations through irradiation of in vitro plantlets can favour the survival of this plant. Radiosensibility experiments using gamma rays were performed in order to determine the primary effects of radiation in in vitro plantlets of this species as a necessary preliminary for the use of the mutation induction strategy