Chromosomal variability in a tissue culture of rare species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gentiana</Emphasis> L.

A cytogenetic analysis of plants and tissue cultures of Gentiana lutea, G. punctata, and G. acaulis is performed. It is discovered that in vitro culturing leads to changes in the chromosome number in the calli of the species. The species specificity of the variability of the genomes of the cultured cells is demonstrated. It is established that the cytogenetic structure of a tissue culture depends on the genotype of the initial plants. It is explained that in callus tissue of Gentiana (other than an in vitro culture of G. punctata, derived from a plant of the Breskul population), diploid cells and cells with near-diploid chromosome complements constitute the modal class.