MORPHO - PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF GENTIAN (Gentiana lutea L.) GENOTYPE SEEDLINGS FROM NATURAL POPULATIONS IN MONTENEGRO

The aim of this paper is to examine the possibility of gentian generative propagation, because the production of high-quality planting material is very important not only for the beginning of revitalization of this plant species in their natural habitat but also for its large-scale production in Montenegro. Cultivation of gentian, as well as other medicinal plants, represents a safe way for their protection and conservation in the wild. For the purpose of choosing the best population, seed samples from 9 natural habitats were collected in the mountains of the northern part of Montenegro. The field trial in which dynamics of gentian seedlings growth was monitored in the first and the second year of vegetation was set up by sowing of seeds collected in natural conditions at the locality Korita. The average fresh root weight of the sowed annual seeds was 0.17 g and the maximum weight had seedlings originating from the locality called Jovanova koliba. The average dry matter content in the roots was 29.18%. The average root length of biennial seedlings of the tested population was 14.6 cm and maximum length had seedlings originating from Prelija. The average root fresh weight of the analyzed population of biennial seedlings was 0.96 g and maximum weight had seedlings from Jovanova koliba (1.57 g).