Nuclear DNA content of ploidy chimeras of Hosta Tratt. (Hostaceae) demonstrate three apical layers in all organs, but not in the adventitious root

A unique combination of chloroplast and ploidy chimeras is found in some Hosta Tratt. (Hostaceae) cultivars. The absence of endopolyploidy in the above—ground parts made it possible to study the fate of the apical or germ layers in all organs. Moreover, we would like to address the question of the number of apical cell layers in Hosta also to explain breeding results. Nuclear DNA content in twelve different organs of Hosta was determined by flow cytometric analysis of four chimeric cultivars with a 4-2-2 or 2-2-4 composition. The margin of the leaf, derived from the L1, can be determined separately and has a 4C amount of DNA in 4-2-2 ploidy chimeras but a 2C amount of DNA in 2-2-4 chimeras. The presence of three layers in Hosta was deduced from comparisons of the percentage of 4C nuclei in (2)-2-4 and (4)-2-2 chimeras. If Hosta organs derive only from two layers the percentage of 4C cells in the different ploidy chimeras should add up to 100%, but they do not. The absence of nuclei with a 2C amount of DNA in the roots of 2-2-4 plants shows that only the L3 participates in adventitious root formation. Gametes and consequently seedlings are mainly derived from the L2. The often found correlation between the color of the centre of the leaf and the color of the seedlings is the consequence of the way these cultivars originate. The presence of three apical layers is visualized in the tricolored leaves of Hosta cultivars like 'Striptease'. The nuclear DNA amounts show unequivocally, that in all the above ground parts of Hosta the three apical layers L1, L2 and L3 are present. However, only the L3 participates in adventitious root formation.