Analysis of flowering ability of regenerated Carlina acaulis subsp. simplex plants

Abstract

Regenerated plants of Carlina acaulis subsp. simplex induced on shoot tips and fragments of hypocotyls, cotyledons and roots were used as an experimental material. Explants were isolated from 10-day-old, sterile seedlings and were put on growth media supplemented with BA (3 mg×dm^-3), and NAA (0,1 mg×dm^-3). Plantlets were acclimatized to ex vitro conditions and planted to the field. Analysis of flowering ability, inflorescence stem morphology, and survival level was the objective of the study. The plants regenerated from shoot tips and cotyledons were able to flower in the first year after acclimatization, however no vital seeds were found, while in the case of hypocotyl- and root- regenerated plants flowering appeared in the second year after acclimatization. Number of flowering-able plants grew in time, reaching 100% level. Few percent of inflorescence stems displayed branches ending with additional capitula. The number of this type of plants decreased in successive years, while the average length of inflorescence stem increased. In the case of intensively flowering plants, the survival rate decreased in 3 consecutive years.