Regeneration of Plants from Protoplasts of Gentiana Species (Gentian)

Abstract

Gentiana, a member of the Gentianaceae family, is composed of 400 species widely distributed all over the world except for the African continent. Most of them are perennial herbs and are grown in the cool mountainous regions. Several species of Gentiana are used as economically important flowers and ornamental plants. G. scabra and G. triflora, which are distributed in the Far East, have especially been cultivated commercially in Japan for more than 40 years. Since the cultivar Iwate, which is an F1 hybrid between G. triflora and G. scabra, was bred in 1977, 33 cut flower and 16 pot flower cultivars have been registered until 1992 in Japan (Yoshiike 1992). Other species such as G. acaulis, G. sino-ornata, and G. verna are also used as plants for rock gardens in Europe.