KARYOTYPE VARIABILITY OF CULTURED CREPIS CELLS (CREPIS-CAPILLARIS L-WALLR)

Karyotype variability of Crepis capillaris callus tissue line showing non-organized growth was studied through the chromosome differential staining C-technique. Variability outburst was found to occur within early 4-6 subcultures to result in multitude karyotype variance distinguished by altered chromosome number and morphology as well as by modified C-banding pattern. After a year long culturing, predominance of two seven-chromosome-karyotype types was evident: one involved major supernumerary acrocentric chromosome, the other exhibited minor supernumerary metacentric chromosome. It seems likely that evolutionary pathway of these karyotypes involved original polyploidization followed by chromosome number reduction. Satellite D-chromosome was found to be most conservative chromosome of the set, while C-chromosome proved to be most amenable to changes.