Somaclonal Variation in Primula

Abstract

The genus Primula, a member of the Primulaceae family, consists of more than 500 species, which are naturally distributed in areas of the temperate zone in Europe, South America, North Africa, and Asia, including Japan (Smith and Forrest 1929). Most of them are perennial, hardy plants which bloom from early spring to summer. These plants usually have radical leaves and five-partite corollas. The plants are generally propagated by seeds or division of clones. Several species, such as P. malacoides, P. obconica, and P. x polyantha, are important ornamental plants which are grown commercially in many parts of the world for use as pot plants and garden flowers. Other species, such as P. auricula and P. sieboldii, are grown locally as pot plants. The chromosome numbers have been reported in the important wild species and some of the cultivated varieties of this genus, including P. auricula (2n = 62,), P. malacoides (2n =18,36), P. obconica (2n = 24, 48), and P. sieboldii (2n = 24, 36; Bolkhovskikh 1969).