Occurrence and reduction of acytokinesis in leaf protoplast cultures of potato and tobacco. Implications for chromosome number variation.

The studies described in this thesis were carried out to investigate and find means to lower early chromosome number variation during leaf protoplast culture of Solanum tuberosum (potato). In a number of plant species, maldistribution of chromosomes had been related to the early occurence of polynucleate cells. In potato, however, neither the causes of polynucleation nor its impact on poly- and aneuploidization had been investigated. Some general and relevant aspects concerning the encountered variation are introduced in chapter 1. ... Summary and final conclusions