The effects of chromosome-doubling on selected morphological and phytochemical characteristics of Cichorium intybus L

The artificial induction of polyploidy is an efficient method by which to increase the production of secondary metabolites in various plant species, but it is often accompanied by changes in morphological and phytochemical characteristics. In this study, various concentrations of colchicine [0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.25, or 0.50% (w/v)] were applied to the seeds or shoot apical meristems of young seedlings of Cichorium intybus L. to induce tetraploidy. Microscopic studies were used to select putative polyploids, and flow cytometry analysis was conducted to confirm ploidy levels. Comparisons were made between selected structural and phytochemical characteristics of the parental diploid and induced tetraploid chicory plants. Based on the numbers of tetraploids obtained, treatment of shoot apical meristems was found to be more efficient than seed treatment. Structural characteristics such as the sizes of leaves, flowers, stomatal guard cells, pollen grains, and numbers of chloroplasts in paired guard cells were affected by an increase in ploidy level. These measurements also indicated that the induction of autotetraploidy in C. intybus L. had a significant effect on total phenolic compound and chlorogenic acid concentrations in leaves.