New or rarely reported chromosome numbers in taxa of subtribe Artemisiinae (Anthemideae, Asteraceae) from Mongolia

This study encompasses 25 chromosome counts of 18 species in the subtribe Artemisiinae (tribe Anthemideae) of the family Asteraceae, from Mongolia. Most (15 species) belong to Artemisia , the largest genus of the subtribe, whereas the others come from two genera very closely related to it: Ajania (two species) and Neopallasia (one species). Eleven counts are new reports, three are not consistent with previous reports and the remainder confirm scanty earlier information. The majority of the species have x  = 9 as their basic chromosome number, but there are some taxa with x  = 8. Ploidy levels range from 2 x to 6 x . The presence of B-chromosomes was detected in Ajania fruticulosa .  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 150 , 203–210.     

Karyotype analysis in South American species of Myrtaceae

In Myrtaceae (Myrteae), the diploid chromosome number 2 n  = 2 x  = 22 is the most common, although variations of ploidy level occur, with some triploid (2 n  = 3 x  = 33) and tetraploid (2 n  = 4 x  = 44) records. Karyotype details in this group are scarce because the chromosomes are small (< 2 μm). In this work, we carried out a karyotypic analysis of 15 species of Myrtaceae grouped in different subtribes and genera. Measurements of chromosome length (long arm, L ; short arm, S ) were taken and several karyotypic parameters were calculated for each species. The karyotypes in fleshy-fruited taxa (Myrteae) were more varied than in the other previously analysed dry-fruited group ( Eucalyptus , Eucalypteae), in which the chromosomes were exclusively metacentric.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2007, 155 , 571–580.     

Uniformity of karyotypes in Ligularia (Asteraceae: Senecioneae), a highly diversified genus of the eastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau highlands and adjacent areas

Ligularia , a highly diversified genus in the eastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and adjacent areas, was chosen as a suitable subject in which to study speciation patterns in this 'hot spot' area at the chromosomal level. Chromosome numbers and karyotypes were studied in 23 populations of 14 species, most of which are endemic to this area. The basic number x  = 29 was confirmed for all species. Ligularia virgaurea was found to have diploid and triploid cytotypes, 2 n  = 58 and 87. Other species are only diploid, with 2 n  = 58. The karyotypes of all populations within any species, and all species spanning most sections and covering most of the morphological range in Ligularia , are very similar to each other, belonging to type 2A according to Stebbin's classification. This karyotype was also found in its close allies, e.g. Cremanthodium , Ligulariopsis , Parasenecio , and Sinacalia . Aneuploid reduction of chromosome number from 2 n  = 60 to 58 and karyotypic variation was found in Ligularia and its allies. Such a chromosomal pattern with few polyploids infers that variation of karyotype structure at the diploid level seems to be the predominant feature of chromosomal evolution in this group and sympatric speciation via hybridization and polyploidization has played a minor role in its species diversity.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 144 , 329–342.     

Cytological studies on the Sino-Himalayan endemic Anisodus and four related genera from the tribe Hyoscyameae (Solanaceae) and their systematic and evolutionary implications

Cytological studies were carried out on eight species of five genera ( Anisodus , Atropanthe , Hyoscyamus , Mandragora and Przewalskia ) in the tribe Hyoscyameae (Solanaceae). First chromosome counts were reported in six species: Anisodus luridus , A. acutangulus , A. tanguticus , A. carniolicoides , Atropanthe sinensis and Mandragora caulescens , all with 2 n  = 8 x  = 48. Two records, for Hyoscyamus niger (2 n  = 2 x  = 34) and Przewalskia tangutica (2 n  = 4 x  = 44), were also confirmed. All species studied showed the proximal type of mitotic prophase chromosome condensation pattern. Three types of interphase nuclei were recognized: the round prochromosome type for Anisodus , Atropanthe and Mandragora , the rod prochromosome type for Przewalskia and the complex chromocentre type for Hyoscyamus . The cytological data supported the close relationship of all four species of Anisodus . Evidence from the interphase nuclei and chromosome base numbers supported the traditional classification of Hyoscyameae into two groups, i.e. Physochlaina praealta + Hyoscyamus (complex interphase type and x  = 7, 14, 17) and Przewalskia + Atropanthe + Anisodus + Scopolia + Atropa + Mandragora (prochromosome type and x  = 6, 11). Polyploidy is found in most species of the tribe in the Himalayan–Hengduan Mountains, as well as in the Mediterranean region, west–central Asia and eastern Asia. It seems that it probably occurred very early in Hyoscyameae evolution, before the uplift of the Himalayan–Hengduan Mountains. The Himalayan orogeny might have played a minor role in the polyploid evolution of plants in this tribe.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 147 , 457–468.     

Chromosome study of the fern genus Cyrtomium (Dryopteridaceae)

Cyrtomium (Dryopteridaceae) is an Asiatic genus comprising about 40 species characterized by having anastomosing veins that form areolae with included veinlets. Twelve chromosome counts representing 11 taxa were made in the present study. The chromosome numbers of six species endemic to China are reported for the first time: C. uniseriale , 2 n  = 164; C. guizhouense , 2 n  = 82; C. shingianum , n  = 82, 2 n  =  c .164; C. chingianum , 2 n  = 164; C. urophyllum , 2 n  = 82 and C. aequibasis , 2 n  = 123. The results were used to show that (1) C. uniseriale should be reduced to varietal status under C. balansae ; (2) subseries Balansana is not closely related to any other Cyrtomium species and should be separated from Cyrtomium ; and (3) C. guizhouense and C. lonchitoides are basal groups when subseries Balansana is not considered. These results were also supported by morphology. A high level of differentiation is a distinct characteristic in Cyrtomium . The genus has two reproductive types: sexual and apogamous. Sexual species are distributed mostly in China. Southwestern China is a modern diversity centre of Cyrtomium , with 80.6% of known species occurring there. Many species are endemic, most of which are sexual tetraploids or apogamous triploids. Both the apogamous reproductive type and polyploid species are adaptions to limestone habitats.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 150 , 221–228.     

Karyology of some Brazilian species of Alismataceae

The family Alismataceae ( sensu Cronquist) comprises 11 genera and 75 species of aquatic and semiaquatic herbs. In Brazil, only the two most speciose genera, Echinodorus Rich. ex Engelm. and Sagittaria L., are present. The chromosome number 2 n  = 22 is common to all species. We present karyotypes for eight species, together with their asymmetry index (TF%) and total chromatin length (TCL). All karyotypes have high karyotypic asymmetry and TCL, due to their large and mostly acrocentric chromosomes. The chromosomal evolution of the Alismatidae group is discussed.  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 143 , 159−164.     

Karyological studies on the Sino-Himalayan endemic Soroseris and two related genera of tribe Lactuceae (Asteraceae)

Karyological studies were carried out on ten populations comprising six species of Soroseris in the tribe Lactuceae (Asteraceae), all endemic to the alpine Sino-Himalayan region and poorly known cytogenetically. The single species of Stebbinsia (one population) and two species of Syncalathium (three populations) were also examined for the first time. The basic chromosome number for the three genera is x  = 8. Stebbinsia and most species of Soroseris are diploids with 2 n  = 2 x  = 16 = 14m + 2sm and have a karyotype asymmetry type 1A. Three species of Soroseris are tetraploid (2 n  = 4 x  = 32 = 28m + 4sm). A karyotype of 2 n  = 2 x  = 16 = 14m(2SAT) + 2sm with type 1A asymmetry was found in Syncalathium kawaguchii , and of 2 n  = 2 x  = 16 = 6m + 10sm with type 2A asymmetry for two populations of Syncalathium souliei . The relationships between Soroseris and the other two genera are discussed. Our cytological results suggest that polyploidy plays a minor role in the chromosome evolution of plants from the Himalayan mountains and adjacent regions.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 154 , 79–87.     

Karyomorphology of the endangered Trigonobalanus doichangensis (A. Camus) Forman (Fagaceae) and its taxonomic and biogeographical implications

Cytological studies were carried out for the first time on five populations of Trigonobalanus doichangensis in China and Thailand. In all populations, the pattern of interphase nuclei was of the simple chromocentre type, the mitotic prophases were of the proximal interstitial type and chromosome numbers were 2 n  = 2 x  = 14. Two B chromosomes were commonly observed at prophase and prophase–metaphase, but rarely at metaphase. Karyotype variation among the populations at the diploid level was limited, but there were some distinguishing cytological characters. Based on the comparison of all the available data on cytology, taxonomy, phytogeography and molecular systematics related to the genus Trigonobalanus , we recommend that the three species of Trigonobalanus comprise the subfamily Trigonobalanoideae and that the genus should not be segregated into three monotypic genera.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 154 , 321–330.     

New chromosome counts in the genus Cousinia (Asteraceae) from Iran

Chromosome counts are reported of 38 populations representing 24 species of the genus Cousinia from Iran, one of the main centres of speciation of the genus. Sixteen of the counts are new to science. Our results confirm that Cousinia exhibits a complex dysploid series ranging from x  = 13 to x  = 9. One of the basic chromosome numbers, x  = 9, is new for the genus and must be confirmed. Some considerations on the correlation between chromosome numbers and section classification are made.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 151 , 411–419.     

Chromosome numbers in the tribes Anthemideae and Inuleae (Asteraceae)

Twenty-two chromosome counts of 19 taxa (21 populations) in the tribe Anthemideae and one member (one population) of the tribe Inuleae of the family Asteraceae are reported. The Anthemideae studied belong to the subtribes Artemisiinae (14 Artemisia taxa, and one species each of the genera Dendranthema , Filifolium and Neopallasia ) and Tanacetinae (one species each of the genera Lepidolopha and Tanacetopsis ). From the Inuleae, we studied one Inula species. Five counts are new reports (including two at generic level), six are not consistent with previous counts and the remainder are confirmations of very limited (one to four records) previous data. Most of populations of Anthemideae studied have the basic chromosome number x  = 9, with ploidy levels ranging from 2 x to 10 x . Dysploidy is also present, with two x  = 8 diploid taxa. The species of Inuleae studied is a diploid with x  = 10, also indicating dysploidy, other members of the same genus Inula having basic numbers of x  = 9 or 8.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 148 , 77–85.     

Cytogenetics of species of Chamaecrista (Leguminosae – Caesalpinioideae) native to southern Brazil

Chromosome numbers, karyotypes, meiotic behaviour and pollen analysis are presented for species of Chamaecrista Moench (Leguminosae, Caesalpinioideae, Cassieae ) native to southern Brazil: C. nictitans ssp. patellaria , C. nictitans ssp. disadena , C. repens , C. rotundifolia , C. flexuosa , C. vestita and C. desvauxii . Meiotic behaviour is reported for the first time for all the taxa and was very regular; only bivalents were formed at diakinesis and metaphase I, chromosome disjunction and segregation were regular at anaphases I and II, meiotic indexes were over 99% and pollen fertility was over 92%. Pollen grains were subprolate in C. flexuosa and C. vestita and prolate–spheroidal in the other taxa. Karyotypes were symmetrical in all six species and the data are original, except for C. nictitans ssp. p atellaria. Chromosome number is presented for the first time for C. repens (2 n  = 16) and has been confirmed for the other taxa: 2 n  = 14 for C. desvauxii , 2 n  = 32 for the tetraploid C. nictitans ssp. patellaria and C. nictitans ssp. disadena , and 2 n  = 16 for the other species. These two basic numbers found in the genus, x  = 7 and x  = 8, point to chromosome evolution by dysploidy, which has also been accompanied by polyploidy.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 150 , 429–439.     

孔药花属(鸭跖草科)的核型研究

本文首次对鸭跖草科孔药花属Porandra Hong进行染色体研究。孔药花P．ramosa Hong和攀缘孔药花P．scandens Hong在染色体的大小、数目和形态上都十分相似,核型公式为2n＝36＝4m+26sm+6st(2sat),核型类型属于3B。染色体证据支持孔药花属与穿鞘花属Amischotolype和Coleotrype属相近的观点。     

Karyology of Limonium (Plumbaginaceae) species from the Balearic Islands and the western Iberian Peninsula

Somatic chromosome numbers, conventional karyotype features and idiograms are reported for 27 Limonium species inhabiting the Western Mediterranean basin (Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands). The chromosome numbers of Limonium barceloi (2 n  = 36), L. ejulabilis (2 n  = 24), L. inexpectans (2 n  = 26), L. interjectum (2 n  = 24), and L. scopulorum (2 n  = 25) were determined for the first time. In addition, new aneuploid and/or polyploid cytotypes are reported in L. alcudianum (2 n  = 26), L. bonafei (2 n  = 26), L. camposanum (2 n  = 26) , L. companyonis (2 n  = 26), L. dufourii (2 n  = 26), L. geronense (2 n  = 36), L. marisolii (2n = 54), L. migjornense (2 n  = 50), and L. pseudodictyocladon (2 n  = 16). A group of polyploid species showed karyotypes comprising homologous chromosomes in groups of three ( L. antonii-llorensii, L. ejulabilis, L. interjectum, L. virgatum, and L. wiedmanii ) , four ( L. geronense ), or six ( L. marisolii ), which suggests an autopolyploid origin. Other polyploid species were characterized by the presence of two different chromosome sets ( x  = 8 and x  = 9) in the genome. The species L. alcudianum , L . bonafei , L. camposanum , L. companyonis , L. dufourii , L. gibertii , L. girardianum , L. inexpectans , L. leonardi-llorensii , L. magallufianum , L. migjornense , L. minoricense , and L. scopulorum showed various combinations of paired and unpaired x  = 8 and x  = 9 chromosome sets, suggesting that they are allopolyploids. © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 155 , 257–272.     

Karyological studies in Tripleurospermum (Asteraceae, Anthemideae) from north-east Anatolia

Chromosome number and morphology in 14 taxa belonging to 19 populations of Tripleurospermum Sch. Bip. were studied using karyological and numerical taxonomical techniques. Data on chromosome measurements were analysed using cluster analysis. Chromosome numbers of these taxa are 2 n  = 2 x  = 18, 4 x  = 36 and 5 x  = 42–48. Seven records are new, two are not consistent with previous counts, and the remainder confirm the very limited previous data (one to three records). A new ploidy level (pentaploidy) is reported for the first time for the genus. Some correlations between ploidy levels and morphological characters are noted and several systematic and evolutionary aspects of the genus are discussed in the light of karyological data.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 146 , 427–438.     

Chromosomal variability in the genus Primula (Primulaceae)

Chromosome numbers and measurements were recorded in 47 individuals of ten taxa of Primula , representing eight species and two subspecies from ten populations. The basic numbers of chromosomes were x  = 8, 9 or 11, and they were mostly metacentric, medium-long to medium-small, ranging in length from c . 3.6 µm to 1.6 µm. Diploid chromosome numbers of 2 n  = 2 x  = 24 and 22 were scored for the first time in P. loeseneri Kitag. and P. prenantha Balf. & Sm., respectively. A new ploidy level of 2 n  = 4 x  = 44 was found in P. burmanica Balf. & King. The recorded diploid numbers of the remaining species confirmed earlier reports. Interspecific variability in chromosome numbers was correlated with heterogeneity in their mean length. Comparison of the data with those in the literature revealed that the observed variability of chromosomal characters was compatible with the other taxonomic criteria and supports the current taxonomic delimitation. Chromosomal variation at the diploid level is the predominant feature in Primula evolution, and allopatric speciation has played a major role in its specific diversity. Subgen. Aleuritia could represent the main clade from which the other subgenera have evolved. The origin of the chromosome numbers, geographical distribution and evolution of the species were assessed, and the parallel polyphyletic mode of evolution in the genus was confirmed.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 150 , 211–219.     

New chromosome counts in the genus Cousinia and the related genus Schmalhausenia (Asteraceae, Cardueae)

Twenty chromosome counts are reported in the genus Cousinia and the monotypic genus Schmalhausenia , which are part of the Arctium group, from Armenia, Iran, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Twelve are new and eight provide confirmation of scarce or disputable previous data. The correlation between karyological data, pollen type and molecular phylogeny is very close, and on this basis two main groups can be defined. One is the arctioid group, which comprises the genera Arctium and Schmalhausenia , and a small part of the genus Cousinia , with x  = 18. The other is the genus Cousinia s.s. , with a dysploid series ranging from x  = 13–11. Some considerations on the chromosomal evolution in the group are made.  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Socety , 2003, 143 , 411–418.     

Polyploidy and karyotype variation in Turkish Bellevalia (Hyacinthaceae)

There are 20 Bellevalia species in Turkey, half of which are endemic. Chromosome numbers are known for 15 species. A chromosome survey of 145 Bellevalia individuals showed that the karyotype is remarkably stable. All are based on x  = 4. The majority are diploid with 2 n  = 8, but there is also a polyploid series of 2 n  = 16, 24 and 32. Aneuploidy occurs only at the octoploid level. Eleven individuals had metacentric B chromosomes, one had acrocentric Bs and one had telocentric Bs. Bellevalia pycnantha and B. paradoxa are morphologically similar, with B. pycnantha reduced to a synonom of B. paradoxa .  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 143 , 87–98.     

Chromosome numbers in Brazilian species of Crotalaria (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae) and their taxonomic significance

Chromosome numbers were counted for 23 species of Crotalaria native to Brazil. Among these data there were new counts for 15 taxa, and some confirmed previous reports or represented numbers that were different from those cited previously. The chromosome numbers most frequently found were 2 n  = 16 and 2 n  = 32. Only C. incana L. had 2 n  = 14 and C. tweediana Benth. had 2 n  = 54. The counts 2 n  = 32 and 54 were found in species of section Calycinae and 2 n  = 16 and 14 in species of section Chrysocalycinae . The data revealed the importance of chromosomal parameters in the characterization of sections Calycinae and Chrysocalycinae in Brazil. We discuss the systematic significance and evolutionary aspects for the genus, comparing the results with the two sections that are native in Brazil.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 151 , 271–277.