MORPHOLOGICAL AND CYTOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PROTOPLAST-DERIVED PLANTS OF STATICE (LIMONIUM-PEREZII HUBBARD)

Morphological characteristics of 56 protoplast-derived plants (protocl ones) of statice (Limonium perezii Hubbard) were compared with meriste m-derived plants (controls). Some protoclones had smaller leaf shape i ndex (length/width) and shorter length of flower stalk and calyx than the controls. However, no distinct somaclonal variations were observed in other characteristics such as color of calyx and number of petals and stamens, except for protoclone No. 1-7, which had flowers with abn ormal petals and low pollen fertility (25%). Microscopic observation s howed that all of the 17 protoclones examined, including clone No. 1-7 , had the normal diploid chromosome number of 14.