Callus tissue was induced on root tips of in vitro cultured seedlings of Al
lium commutatum Guss. cultured on MS medium supplemented with 4.6 mu M kine
tin and 4.5 mu M 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Developed calli we
re transferred to the same basal medium with addition of 1.0, 2.5 and 5.0 m
u M 2,4-D or without 2,4-D. After three weeks in culture adventitious shoot
and root induction was observed in compact greenish coloured callus on med
ium without 2,4-D. On media supplemented with 1.0 and 2.5 mu M 2,4-D the ca
llus was compact and yellowish with adventitious roots. No organogenesis wa
s noticed on medium with 5.0 mu M 2,4-D and callus tissue was whitish and s
limy. For preliminary cytological analyses samples of callus tissue were co
llected on the 7. and 14. day after the transfer. Fixed calli fragments wer
e hydrolized in 1 N HCl at 60 degrees C for 11 minutes and stained in tote
with basic fuchsin. The slides were prepared according to standard Feulgen
squash technique. In each sample 1000 cells were screened for mitotic activ
ity and for establishing the rate of abnormalities. Relatively low level of
genetic alterations was found, Among them micronuclei and polyploid cells
were observed.