RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To explore the technique of induction of polyploidy in Salvia bowleyana by colchicine treatment. METHOD: The three kinds of explant of bud, leaf and calli were induced by colchicine treatment. RESULT: The induction effects were better when the calli was treated by colchicines (15 mg x L(-1)) and the leaf was pre-cultured for one week. The doubling rate was 33.33%, while the majority were wholy doubled plants, and the leaves were thicker and broader, the color was darker, the root was thicker and the stoma size was obviously bigger than the diploid plants. The number of chromosome were 8 to 64. Isoenzyme analysis showed that the enzyme activities between the polyploid and the diploid plants were quite different. CONCLUSION: Induction of polyploidy by colchicine treatment is efficacious. The part of the doubled plants were identified as homologmous tetraploids.