Cytogenetic studies of Haplopappus gracilis in both callus and suspension cell cultures

Investigations have been carried out on karyotype change in both callus and suspension cell cultures of Haplopappus gracilis (2n=4). It has been found that polyploidization arises directly in culture to give up to six times the normal diploid chromosome number in some cultures. In polyploid cultures, both chromosome loss and chromosome rearrangements occur to give rise to aneuploid karyotypes displaying chromosomes which differ in morphology from the diploid set. Whole or partial chromosome loss has been observed in the form of lagging chromosomes and chromosome bridges at anaphase, and micronuclei, ring chromosomes and chromosome fragments at other stages in mitosis. C-banded preparations have confirmed the occurrence of chromosomal rearrangements. Comparative investigations suggest that (i) more polyploidy occurs in callus cultures than in suspension cell cultures, and (ii) the presence of cytokinin (kinetin) in the culture medium may reduce the extent of karyotype change.