Twardovska M. Gentiana L. genome variability in nature and culture in vitro

The subject of study is genome variability of Gentiana L. species of Ukrainian flora. The aim is to study the peculiarities of genome variability on chromosome and molecular levels of members of Gentiana L. species of Ukrainian flora in nature and culture in vitro. The methods of study are in vitro culture methods, cellular selection in vitro, cytogenetic analysis, DNA isolation, RAPD-PCR, DNA electrophoresis into agarose gel, statistical methods. Chromosome numbers for 7 Gentiana species were identified. The callus cells under study (except for G. punctata) were shown to carry diploid and/or near diploid chromosome sets and low level of anaphase aberrations. Through RAPD technique interspecies polymorphism was brought out and interrelations between Gentiana species of Ukrainian flora were found. Changes in Gentiana tissue culture failed to extend beyond the range of intraspecies variability. Field of application: genetics, botany, biotechnology.