Varietal Response of Tobacco Plants Through Tissue Culture to Butachlor and Bialaphos Herbicides

This study was carried out to determine effect of butachlor [N.-(buthoxymethyl)-2-chloro-N-(2,6-diethylphenyl) acetamide] and bialaphos [2-amino-4(hydroxy)(methyl) phosphionyl] butyryl-alanylalanine sodium salt on the germination of tobacco seed, induction and growth of callus from tobacco. Further, fatty acids and ammonia content of tobacco calli were determined. Bialaphos had no effect on tobacco seed germination, but the growth of seedling was markedly affected by an application of 10 ppm bialaphos. However, regardless of varieties tested, tobacco seed germination was completely inhibited by of butachlor. At an application of butachlor, tobacco seeds were to some extent germinated and showed further growth. Hyangcho among varieties tested, showed the most tolerant response to butachlor. In induction of callus from various tobacco varieties and their growth, aromatic type of tobacco varieties exhibited the most tolerance against bialaphos. However, no distinct varietal differences were determined in the treatment of butachlor. The major fatty acids identified in tobacco calli were palmitic, oleic and linoleic acid. No marked difference in terms of fatty acids was observed among tobacco varieties used, but it was observed that there was the higher ratio of quantity in unsaturated fatty acids over saturated one, bialaphos treatment accumulated about 9 times higher ammonia content than that of the untreated control, giving an evidence that bialaphos might inhibit glutamine synthetase activity.