Crossing experiments of lettuce cultivars and species (Lactuca sect.Lactuca,Compositae)

The degree of relationships withinLactuca sativa and three wild relativesL. serriola, L. saligna, andL. virosa was studied by observing the performance, vigour and fertility of the F 1 hybrids obtained from crosses made in and between the four species. The crosses ofL. saligna ×L. virosa and the reciprocal crosses produced no hybrids.L. saligna andL. virosa are the least related of the four species.L. sativa ×L. serriola and the reciprocal crosses were successful and produced fertile hybrids These two species are genetically very closely related.L. saligna is known to produce, as a female parent, hybrids withL. sativa andL. serriola. Now the reciprocal cross was successful for the first time, so the unability to obtain hybrids in the past was based on the choice of accessions and not caused by unilateral incompatibility.L. virosa ×L. sativa and the reciprocal combination produced hybrids. The combinationL. serriola ×L. virosa produced hybrids with very limited fertility. In contrast to earlier reports (sterile hybrids) one combination of the reciprocal cross too produced hybrids with very limited fertility.—Some of theL. saligna ×L. sativa (and reciprocal) hybrids were found to look strikingly likeL. serriola. This adds evidence for the descent ofL. serriola andL. sativa:L. saligna also made part of the ancestral complex of the cultivated lettuce.     

Numerical morphological analysis of Lettuce cultivars and species (Lactuca sect.Lactuca,Asteraceae)

L. sativa L. cultivars were compared morphologically with accessions ofL. saligna L.,L. serriola L., andL. virosa L. in order to define the infra- and interspecific variation. Multivariate analysis (principal component analysis) distinguished four groups corresponding with the four species. Infraspecific variation (e.g., colour, leaf shape) withinL. sativa is the largest, because breeding has caused a large variation in vegetative features; infraspecific variation withinL. serriola is also large. Three plants of one accession were placed betweenL. sativa andL. serriola because they showed morphological characteristics of both species. They are still classified asL. sativa. The morphological differences betweenL. sativa andL. serriola are too large to consider these two as one species. The descent of the cultivar groups and the four species is described.     

Replication banding patterns in the spined loach,Cobitis taenia L. (Pisces,Cobitidae)

The chromosomal complement of Cobitis taenia was analysed by replication banding techniques to determine whether there were specific patterns that could allow distinction of the different chromosomes. The diploid chromosome number of 2n = 48 is diagnostic of this species. In vivo 5-bromodeoxyuridine (5-BrdU) incorporation induced highly reproducible replication bands. Most of the chromosome pairs were distinguishable on the base of their banding patterns. The karyotype, consisting of five pairs of metacentrics, nine pairs of submetacentrics and 10 pairs of subtelocentrics and acrocentrics, was confirmed. C-banding and replication banding patterns were compared, and heterochromatin was both early and later replicating. C-positive heterochromatin in centromeric regions was mainly early replicating, but that located in pericentromeric regions was late replicating. Most of the late-replicating regions found interstitially were C-band negative. The results obtained so far for combined chromosomal staining methods of C. taenia and other Cobitis fish species are discussed.     

Cytotaxonomy and karyotype evolution inPhleum sect.Phleum (Poaceae) in Poland

Three taxa are distinguished in the sectionPhleum Griseb. in Poland:P. nodosum (2n = 14),P. pratense (2n = 42), and the third one unformally named hereP. commutatum (2n = 14). It corresponds morphologically toP. commutatum Gaud. reported as a tetraploid taxon (2n = 28) from other geographic regions. Giemsa C-banded karyotypes of these three taxa help clarify the taxonomic status ofP. commutatum and the origin of the hexaploidP. pratense. It is suggested that changes in the amount of telomeric heterochromatin played an important role in the evolution ofPhleum karyotypes.     

Fluorescent chromosome banding in the cultivated species ofCapsicum (Solanaceae)

Fluorochrome chromosome banding is applied for the first time to 15 samples of five cultivatedCapsicum species, all with 2n = 24, and allows a detailed analysis of the karyotypes (Tables 2–3, Fig. 8). Banding patterns differ between cytotypes, species and groups, reflecting the dynamics of chromosomal differentiation and evolutionary divergence. Taxa have from 1 to 4 NOR-bearing satellited chromosome pairs and exhibit increasing numbers of terminal (rarely intercalary and indistinct centromeric) heterochromatic fluorescent bands. Amounts of heterochromatin (expressed in % of karyotype length) increase from the group withC. annuum (1.80–2.88),C. chinense (3.91–5.52), andC. frutescens (5.55) toC. baccatum (7.30–7.56), and finally toC. pubescens (18.95). In all taxa CMA+DAPI—(GC-rich) constitutive heterochromatin dominates, onlyC. pubescens has an additional CMAo DAPI+ (AT-rich) band. The fluorochrome bands generally (but not completely) correspond to the Giemsa C-bands. Structural heterozygosity can be demonstrated but is not prominent. The independent origin of at least three evolutionary lines leading to the cultivated taxa ofCapsicum is supported.Chromosome studies inCapsicum (Solanaceae), V. For the fourth part seeMoscone & al. 1995.     

Electrophoretic seed albumin patterns and species relationships inVicia sect.Faba (Fabaceae)

Electrophoretic analysis of seed albumins (PAGE) covered 173 accessions representing nine species ofVicia sect.Faba. The number of albumin bands recorded in particular species varied from three inV. eristaloides to 23 inV. faba; in total, 38 bands were distinguished in the investigated material. The examined species, exceptV. eristalioides, showed intraspecific variation with respect to the number and relative staining intensity of albumin bands; individual variation was especially marked inV. faba and inV. narbonensis. Hierarchical clustering of the investigated taxa was based onBhattacharyya distances calculated from the electrophoretic data. The taxa grouped in three main clusters.Vicia faba and the rather remotely relatedV. kalakhensis formed one cluster. The second cluster was composed ofV. narbonensis distantly related toV. hyaeniscyamus. The third cluster comprised three subgroups: 1.V. johannis, V. galilaea andV. serratifolia, 2.V. eristalioides, and 3.V. bithynica. The obtained results are discussed with reference to taxonomic relationships inVicia sect.Faba.     

Chromosome banding patterns of the aye-aye,Daubentonia madagascariensis (primates,Daubentoniidae)

The aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis) is an endangered prosimian primate found only on the island of Madagascar. It is the only extant representative of its family Daubentoniidae. The phylogenetic relationship of this species with other prosimians is unclear. Because a G-banded karyotype forDaubentonia has not previously been reported, blood for preparation of lymphocyte cultures was obtained from one of the four aye-ayes in captivity in the United States. The diploid chromosome number was 30. The karyotype consisted of 14 autosomal metacentrics, 10 autosomal submetacentrics, and 4 autosomal acrocentrics. The similarities between the G-banded chromosomes ofDaubentonia and those ofPropithecus, a member of the Indriidae, support the notion thatDaubentonia has a closer relationship with the Indriidae than with other Lemuriformes or the lorisoids.     

Characterization of diploid,tetraploid and hexaploid Helianthus species by chromosome banding and FISH with 45S rDNA probe

Comparative karyotype analyses of five diploid, two tetraploid, and three hexaploid species of Helianthuswere performed using Feulgen staining, Giemsa C and CMA₃ (C-CMA) staining, and FISH with 45S rDNA probe. The karyotypes are composed by a basic number of x=17 with a predominance of meta- and submetacentric chromosome types. A polyploid series is associated with the basic number. Giemsa C- and C-CMA banding revealed terminal or interstitial heterochromatin according to the species, suggesting the existence of a mechanism that may be acting in the dispersion of heterochromatic segments in Helianthus. The nucleolar organizer regions were located at terminal chromosome positions by FISH with 45S rDNA probe. Diploid species presented four, six, and eight rDNA sites, tetraploid species showed eight sites and hexaploid species presented 12 rDNA sites. Karyomorphological differences include variation in number, size and chromosome morphology, suggesting that rearrangements involving small heterochromatic and rDNA segments played a major role in karyotype evolution.     

Chromosome banding and genome size differentiation inProspero (Hyacinthaceae): Diploids

Prospero is a Mediterranean autumn-flowering genus ofHyacinthaceae commonly classified inScilla asS. autumnalis andS. obtusifolia. Extensive dysploid and polyploid variation has been reported. In the present study 77 diploid accessions from the western to the eastern part of the area of distribution, the major part being from continental Greece and Crete, have been analysed for karyotype structure and, in part, for genome size. Methods employed were acetocarmine staining, Giemsa C-banding, fluorochrome staining mainly with chromomycin A₃/DAPI, silver impregnation, and Feulgen densitometry. Banded idiograms were established with a computer assisted karyotype analysis procedure. Chromosome numbers were 2n = 8 inP. obtusifolium, and 2n = 12 and 14 inP. autumnale s. l. Dispensable euchromatic chromosome segments and different types of B chromosomes occurred. Among the cytotypes with 2n = 14 two karyotypes from Turkey differed from each other and from the rest in form, position of the nucleolar constriction, and in genome size. The remaining accessions were similar in karyotype shape but three levels of genome size could be discerned, the highest (1C = 7.50 pg) being found on the Iberian Peninsula, an intermediate one on Corsica and Malta, and the lowest (4.27 pg) in the Aegean. The karyotype with 2n = 12 had an intermediate genome size, and that ofP. obtusifolium a relatively low one. Heterochromatin amount was generally low, but some karyotypes showed characteristic banding patterns. The relationship between the chromosome complements with 2n = 14, 12 and 8 is discussed on the basis of idiograms and DNA amounts.The authors respectfully dedicate this papers to emer. o. Prof. Dr.Elisabeth Tschermak-Woess on the occasion of her 80th birthday.     

Karyological studies onGentiana sect.Chondrophyllae (Gentianaceae) from China

Nineteen populations of fifteen species ofGentiana sect.Chondrophyllae from China were observed cytologically.Gentiana alsinoides, G. anisostemon, G. asterocalyx, G. exigua, G. heterostemon, G. intricata, G. praticola, G. pseudoaquatica, G. spathulifolia, andG. subintricata all had the same chromosome number of 2n = 20 (or n = 10), whereasG. piasezkii had 2n = 36,G. squarrosa 2n = 38,G. prattii 2n = 18,G. aristata 2n = 14 (n = 7), andG. heleonastes 2n = 12. All these chromosome numbers are documented here for the first time, except forG. squarrosa, where it is a new number report. The basic numbers of x = 6, x = 7 and x = 19 are new for the section. Karyotype analyses of some species revealed that, except for a few cases, the species examined mainly had metacentric chromosomes. 2n = 20 = 2m(SAT) + 18m was found to be the main type of karyotype for the species with 2n = 20. Chromosomal evolution and its mechanism in this section are also discussed.     

Revision ofDoniophyton (Compositae, Barnadesioideae)

This revision describes, illustrates and documents morphological variation inDoniophyton (Compositae, Barnadesioideae), restricted to Argentina and Chile. Two species are recognized,D. anomalum andD. weddellii (sp. nova), possessing distinct morphological and chromosomal features, elevational tolerances, and nearly allopatric distributions.Doniophyton weddellii occurs primarily in central to northern Andean Chile and Argentina from 1900–4000 m a. s. l.;D. anomalum is found principally in centralwestern Argentina and south into Patagonia at 0–1800 m a. s. l. Close relationship exists withChuquiraga of subfam.Barnadesioideae. It is hypothesized thatDoniophyton evolved out ofChuquiraga in the high central Andes between Chile and Argentina. It is suggested thatD. weddellii differentiated first, correlating with an aneuploid chromosomal decrease from n = 27 (inChuquiraga) to n = 25. Further evolution and chromosomal decrease to n = 24 resulted inD. anomalum, with accompanying migration into southern Andes and Patagonia. Nomenclatural changes result from examination of protologues and type specimens:Doniophyton anomalum replaces the commonly used nameD. patagonicum, and a new species,D. weddellii, is described for the taxon masquerading under the routinely used superfluous nameD. andicola. This paper is dedicated with admiration and respect to emer. Univ.-Prof. DrFriedrich Ehrendorfer, one of the world's outstanding plant systematists, and a leading scientist and administrator of the Institute of Botany of the University of Vienna     

A new species ofJusticia sect.Ansellia (Acanthaceae) from Tanzania

Justicia brevipedunculata, a new species ofJ. sect.Ansellia endemic to Tanzania, is described and illustrated. Detailed palynological information is given, and relationships to other species of the section are discussed.     

A cytological study ofPelargonium sect.Eumorpha (Geraniaceae)

The chromosome numbers of seven species ofPelargonium sect.Eumorpha have been determined from material of known wild origin, and karyotypic comparisons have been made. Within the section there is variation in basic chromosome number (x = 4, 8, 9, 11), variation in chromosome size, and two species have polyploid races. The three species with chromosome numbers based on x = 11 have the smallest chromosomes (1.0–1.5 µm); chromosomes are larger (1.0–3.0 µm) in the other species.P. elongatum has the lowest chromosome number in the genus (2n = 8).P. alchemilloides is exceptional in that it has four cytotypes, 2n = 16, 18, 34 and 36, and the form with 2n = 36 has large chromosomes (2.0–5.0 µm). Evidence from a synthesized hybrid suggests thatP. alchemilloides with 2n = 16 may be of polyploid origin. The three species based on x = 11 appear to be more closely related to species from other sections ofPelargonium that have the same basic chromosome number and small chromosome size, rather than to other species of sect.Eumorpha.     

Karyotypes,C-banding and nucleolar numbers inGuizotia (Compositae)

Karyotypes, constitutive heterochromatin and nucleolar numbers of five recognized taxa and two systematically new populations ofGuizotia have been studied using Giemsa or aceto-orcein staining, C-banding and silver nitrate staining. All accessions have 2n = 30 chromosomes, but satellite chromosome number and nucleolar number varied from four to eight. Centromere positions varied from predominantly median to submedian and subterminal in different materials. The satellites and an interstitial region in the short arm of one chromosome pair were C-banded in all materials. Telomeric and centromeric C-bands were also observed. The material could be classified into three groups, indicating possible phylogenetic relationships.     

Evolution of male sterility mechanisms in gynodioecious and dioecious species ofCirsium (Cynareae,Compositae)

The genusCirsium comprises both gynodioecious and dioecious species. The observation of microsporogenesis in female plants ofC. montanum, C. oleraceum, C. palustre andC. spinosissimum shows that the male sterility is due to a degeneration of the tapetum. This degeneration occurs more or less early according to the species and, in the light of these results, a scheme of evolution in the male sterility mechanism is proposed. Furthermore, the male sterility mechanism inC. montanum is very similar to that previously found in female plants of the dioecious speciesC. arvense. This fact enhances the possibility of evolution of the dioecy ofC. arvense from the gynodioecy found in other species. According to these results, a general scheme of evolution of sexes in the genusCirsium is proposed.     

Pappus part number in annual species ofMicroseris (Compositae,Cichoriaceae)

All North American annual species of the genusMicroseris have a five-part pappus, the one South American annual,M. pygmaea, has ten pappus parts. The pappus develops over a constant number of ten provascular bundles with or without inhibition between alternate sites of pappus development. Each natural population contains a predictable proportion of achenes with aberrant pappus part numbers. Hybridization betweenM. bigelovii (5 parts) andM. pygmaea results in F 1 and F 2 plants with many aberrant achenes. In each plant either five or ten can be shown to be the basic number with aberrant numbers following a Poisson distribution for numbers added to 5 or deleted from 10. Occasional plants show no basic number but have a random distribution of numbers about an intermediate mean. The evolutionary genetics of this character is discussed.     

Chromosome banding and pairing behaviour inFestuca andVulpia (Poaceae,Pooideae)

Giemsa C-banding patterns of the grassesFestuca rubra (2n = 6x = 42),Vulpia fasciculata (2n = 4x = 28) and their wild F1 hybrid ×Festulpia hubbardii (2n = 5x = 35) show marked differences between the chromosomes of the two parents that enable unequivocal identification ofFestuca andVulpia chromosomes in the hybrid. Moreover, meiotic banding patterns reveal that both homogenetic (Festuca-Festuca andVulpia-Vulpia) and heterogenetic (Festuca-Vulpia) pairing occurs in the F1. The significance of this in relation to the formation of backcrosses to theFestuca parent and to the evolution of theFestuca polyploid complex in general is discussed.     

Karyology of theScorzonera (Compositae) species from the Iberian Peninsula

A karyological study of 15 taxa ofScorzonera L. from the Iberian Peninsula has been made. The chromosome numbers found inS. hispanica var.pinnatifida, S. baetica, S. reverchonii, S. angustifolia, S. laciniata var.calcitrapifolia and var.subulata (2n = 14) are new. Diploid cytotypes with 2n = 14 and 2n = 12 prevail, andS. hispanica var.crispatula is the only taxon which exhibits autopolyploidy (2n = 14, 28). x = 7 is considered to be the base chromosome number within the genus, with x = 6 being derived from it by translocation. This and detailed karyotype analyses allow to group the Iberian Peninsula species ofScorzonera into three groups.     

Pothos crassipedunculatus,a new species ofPothos sect.Allopothos (Araceae) from India

Pothos crassipedunculatus Sivadasan & Mohanan (Araceae), a new species closely related to the SW. Indian endemic and little known speciesP. thomsonianus Schott is described. It is characterized by the the non-ligulate, shortly vaginate petiole, thickly peduncled inflorescence, broadly ovate spathe and a sessile spadix. It is included in ser.Brevivaginati Engler of sect.Allopothos Schott.     

DNA contents,giemsa banding,and systematics inScilla bifolia,S. drunensis,andS. vindobonensis (Liliaceae)

DNA contents have been determined cytophotometrically in the three Central European, relatedScilla speciesS. bifolia (2n = 18, 2 x, 1 C = 6.2 pg),S. drunensis (2n = 36, 4 x, 1 C = 12.8 pg), andS. vindobonensis (2n = 18, 2 x, 1 C = 9.4 pg). The tetraploid speciesS. drunensis contains twice as much DNA as the diploidS. bifolia. However, the diploid speciesS. vindobonensis differs in DNA content fromS. bifolia by a factor of about 1.5. This difference is largely due to euchromatic DNA, although the higher DNA content inS. vindobonensis is combined with higher heterochromatin content. The data indicate thatS. bifolia andS. drunensis on the one hand, andS. vindobonensis on the other hand are phyletically well separated. Previous taxonomic conclusions from morphology as well as C-banding are thus corroborated.Evolution ofScilla and Related Genera, V.