Polyploid induction of Eucalyptus dunnii Maiden to generate waviability in breeding programs. [Polyploid induction of Eucalyptus dunnii Maiden to generate variability in breeding programs].
Eucalyptus dunnii Maiden produces good quality cellulose pulp, showing good frost tolerance. However, in Uru-guay, it needs more than six years to reach the reproductive stage. Genome duplication was proposed as a strategy to obtain useful variability. The application of mitosis inhibitors for chromosomal duplication, in explants growing in vitro, was evaluated. Two antimitotic agents were used:colchicine and oryzalin in different concen-trations and exposure times, in two types of explants:explants growing in vitro and pre-germinated seeds.