One of the goals of somaclonal trials is to identify somaclones that can be used directly or form basis for breeding. Already, somaclonal variation has some impact on the improvement of sugarcane, maize, plantain and potato, and in the breeding of new floricultural varieties. Somaclonal variation may find its greatest application for plant improvement in concert with selection for desirable mutations at the cellular level if it interfaces with conventional breeding. Potentially useful somaclones should be evaluated under relatively stringent field conditions to confirm their agronomic, disease resistant or breeding values.