Polyploidy in Plants: What It Is and How Growers Can Use It

What Is Polyploidy?

In simple terms, polyploidy is when a plant has more than two sets of chromosomes. Most animals (including humans) are diploid—we have two sets. But in the plant world, polyploidy is common and can happen naturally or be induced artificially.

Examples of naturally polyploid plants include:

• Wheat (hexaploid – 6 sets)
• Cotton (tetraploid – 4 sets)

This genetic mutation can result in:

• Larger plants or fruits
• Increased resistance to pests and disease
• New hybridization possibilities

How Is Polyploidy Induced?

There are two main ways to create polyploid plants:

1. Colchicine Treatment

Colchicine is a mutagenic chemical derived from autumn crocus. It interrupts normal cell division (mitosis), causing cells to double their chromosome count abnormally.

How it’s used:

• Applied to seedlings, cuttings, or callus tissue
• Often handled in controlled environments due to its toxicity

⚠️ Important Warning:
Colchicine is highly toxic. Never use your kitchen appliances for processing it. Wear gloves, and keep away from children and pets.

2. Ultrasound Shock

Ultrasonic waves can also disrupt cell division, offering a chemical-free way to induce polyploidy. While still experimental, this method shows promise—especially for amateur plant breeders avoiding mutagens.

Why Induce Polyploidy?

Polyploidy can be a game-changer in crop improvement, though results vary and can be unpredictable. Here are some of the reasons growers experiment with it:

• Larger Fruits & Flowers: Double the chromosomes, double the size—sometimes.
• Sterile Plants: Great for ornamental crops like hyacinths that don’t drop seeds.
• Pest Resistance: Some polyploids are naturally more resistant.
• Improved Nutrient Uptake
• Crossing Incompatible Species: Polyploidy helps in hybridizing plants that normally can’t breed—like crossing wheat with rye to make triticale.

💡 Fun fact: A wild hybrid plant found at Oxford railway station was only fertile due to one parent being polyploid!

The Downsides of Polyploidy

While promising, polyploidy is not a guaranteed upgrade:

• Results are highly variable
• Some polyploid plants produce less resin, smaller flowers, or become prone to rot
• Larger flowers take longer to dry, which can promote mould and bud rot

Because of its unpredictability, polyploidy is used cautiously—mainly by commercial breeders or experimental hobbyists.

How to Try It (If You Dare)

If you’re a pollen chucker, plant breeder, or advanced hobbyist:

• Buy autumn crocus bulbs
• Extract colchicine safely
• Apply to seedlings you want to mutate

📦 Tip: Use a dedicated processor and never reuse it for food. Safety first.

Polyploidy and the Bigger Picture in Hydroponics

While polyploidy might not be your go-to daily tactic, it reflects the experimental nature of hydroponics—tweaking, adjusting, and discovering what works best for your crop, environment, and goals.

Final Thoughts

Polyploidy isn’t for every grower—but it’s an exciting window into how plants evolve, how breeders innovate, and how hydroponics can push the boundaries of modern agriculture.

Article by Dr Russell Sharp

If you would like to keep up to date with subjects just like this, you can listen to both our podcasts! Links can be found bellow:

Hydroponics Daily Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/207T7p7fw9sPjINfSjVXW2

Cereal Killers Podcast: https://t.co/eSEbBkTVHl