Abstract: | Native to North America, Echinacea species have an important place in herbal medicine. Echinacea has long been used by Native Americans to treat many conditions, including venomous bites, rabies, cold, headache, and stomach cramps (Foster, 1991; Kindscher, 1989; Li, 1998).
Its non-selective, immune-enhancing properties have promoted the use of and demand for Echinacea products in recent years and, consequently, its field production.
Understanding the cytogenetics of the plant has a key role for controlling the âin vitroâ behavior of different explants by a better understanding of the influence of these peculiar conditions over the growth processes. Echinacea angustifolia plants are diploids with a somatic chromosome number of 2n = 22.
The study focused toward the determination of the main cellular indexes (mitotic index, prophase index, metaphase index, telophase index and anaphase index) as indicators of growth and development processes speed. In order to have more accurate results, the studies were accomplished in the root meristematic tips on three different plants, originated from Vegetable Research and Development Station BacÄu, Romania. |
