CHROMOSOME NUMBERS IN COMPOSITAE VII: ASTEREAE III

Reports of 129 new chromosome counts are made for the tribe Astereae of Compositae. They are mostly based on determinations of meiotic material, including first counts for one genus and 43 species or subspecies. Counts are now available for more than 63 of the 100-120 genera and 564 of the approximately 2,000 species in the tribe. Three of every four genera with more than one species counted show more than one chromosome number; 15 genera have species with populations with different numbers. Such variation is very high and indicates the need for more detailed cytotaxonomical study in the group.     

CHROMOSOME NUMBERS IN COMPOSITAE. I. ASTEREAE

Raven , Peter H. (U. California, Los Angeles.), Otto T. Solbrig , Donald W. Kyhos , and Richard Snow . Chromosome numbers in Compositae. I. Astereae. Amer. Jour. Bot. 47(2) : 124—132. Illus. 1960.–Ninety-two new counts are reported for the tribe Astereae of Compositae, mostly based on determinations of meiotic material. These include the first counts reported for the genera Acamptopappus, Amphipappus, Benitoa, Chrysothamnus, Corethrogyne, Lessingia, Monoptilon, and Xanthocephalum, as well as for many species. The original counts are discussed in relation to those previously reported for the tribe; together these constitute a total of 39 genera examined cytologically out of the approximately 100 known. Because of its widespread occurrence in diverse phylogenetic lines within the tribe and the family, and because of its high degree of correlation with the woody habit, which is thought to be primitive, x=9 is regarded as the original basic number for Astereae. Within the Haplopappus alliance there is a strong secondary mode of chromosome numbers centering around x=5. The hiatus between these two modes in number is explained on the basis of ancient phylogenetic reduction in chromosome number followed by the extinction of less successful intermediate types, and is compared with similar trends that have been reported for Cichorieae. It is suggested that the family is not of polyploid origin but may have had an original diploid basic number.     

OBSERVATIONS ON THE SHAPE AND EXPOSURE OF STYLE BRANCHES IN THE ASTEREAE (COMPOSITAE)

A survey of over 30 species of Aster and 61 species in other genera of Astereae indicates that the somewhat flattened style branches of perfect disk florets characteristically unfold and spread in a pronate, rather than a supinate manner. While not exhibited in all genera (Baccharis and Conyza are among the exceptions), this phenomenon appears to be restricted to and, therefore, diagnostic for the tribe. The slender style branches of pistillate ray florets display the supinate expansion which is regularly observed in other tribes of Compositae.     

CHROMOSOME NUMBERS IN COMPOSITAE V. ASTEREAE II.

Reports of 100 new chromosome counts are made for the tribe Astereae of Compositae, mostly based on determinations of meiotic material, including first counts for 9 genera and 53 species. Counts are now available for 58 of the approximately 100–120 genera and 431 of the approximately 2000 species in the tribe. Comparisons are made between chromosome number and habit and also between chromosome number and geographical distribution. Species and genera with a basic number of x = 9 are the most abundant. Within different phyletic lines x = 9 is also the most abundant number. On the other hand, many species with x = 4 and 5, belonging to a number of small, largely annual genera, are concentrated in southwestern North America. The low chromosome number in these plants is probably correlated with the dry habitat they occupy, and is most likely a specialized condition.     

CHROMOSOME NUMBERS IN COMPOSITAE. IX. HAPLOPAPPUS AND OTHER ASTEREAE

Reports of 209 original chromosome counts are made for the tribe Astereae of Compositae, including first counts for two genera and 46 species or subspecies. With over 80 % of the species counted, chromosome numbers are now available for all North American sections of Haplopappus. Two major groupings are apparent: one, with basic numbers of x = 4, 5, or 6, is basically herbaceous; the other, with x = 9, consists of shrubs or subshrubs. Aneuploidy is known only in the “herbaceous” group of Haplopappus, and polyploidy is more extensive there than in the woodier group of sections.     

CYTOTAXONOMIC STUDIES IN THE EUPHORBIACEAE,SUBTRIBE PHYLLANTHINAE

Webster , Grady L. (Purdue U., Lafayette, Ind.), and J. R. Ellis . Cytotaxonomic studies in the Euphorbiaceae, subtribe Phyllanthinae. Amer. Jour. Bot. 49:(1): 14–18. Illus. 1962.—Chromosome numbers are reported for 18 species of mostly West Indian Euphorbiaceae, subtribe Phyllanthinae, 13 of these for the first time (including the first published count for the genus Margaritaria). For 4 species, a number different from previous determinations has been recorded. The base chromosome number in Breynia, Fluggea, Margaritaria, and most species of Phyllanthus appears to be 13. However, in Phyllanthus subg. Isocladus haploid numbers of 8 and 18 were observed. One species, Phyllanthus pulcher, is a sterile hexaploid (n = 39) of presumably hybrid origin. The cytological data do not support Perry's suggestion that annual taxa are primitive in the Euphorbiaceae.     

CHROMOSOME STUDIES IN COMPOSITAE

Original chromosome observations, including number, from meiotic preparations from 65 collections representing 57 species in 43 genera of Compositae are reported. Of these, eight are first reports. Meiotic irregularities were noted in several species; pollen stainabilities are given for these. Observations that differ from earlier reports are discussed.     

MORE CHROMOSOME STUDIES IN COMPOSITAE

Chromosome observations, including number, from meiotic cells from 155 collections (most from Chiapas, Mexico) representing 138 species from 76 genera of Compositae provide taxonomically useful information, especially first counts (for Espejoa [n = 9], Gymnolaena [n = 13], and Rojasianthe [n = 19] and for 39 species in other genera) and counts that differ from other reports. Pollen stainabilities do not always correlate with meiotic irregularities.     

中国萱草属(百合科)的数量细胞分类研究

用数量分类技术比较研究了国产萱草属植物的核型。所研究的分类群是:Hemerocallis citrina, H．dumortieri,H．esculenta,H．forrestii,二倍体和三倍体H．fulva,H．lilioasphodelus,H．mid- dendorffii,H．minor,H．multiflora,H．plicata。结果表明,物种形成已发生在染色体水平,染色体 变异与形态变异基本一致。结果支持将H．citrina和H．minor作为H．lilioasphodelus的亚种,H． esculenta作为H．dumortieri的变种。结果不支持将H．middendorffii作为H．dumortieri的变种,也 没有发现H．multiflora与H．plicata密切相关的证据。     

CHROMOSOME STUDIES IN WESTERN NORTH AMERICAN COMPOSITAE

Original chromosome observations including number for 68 taxa representing 47 genera are reported. Of these, 12 are first reports for species representing ten genera. In nine species multivalent associations (rings or chains) were noted; these were not always accompanied by low pollen stainability. Accessory chromosomes (centric fragments or univalents) were noted in two species.     

APOMIXIS IN EUPATORIUM TANACETIFOLIUM (COMPOSITAE)

Cytogenetics and embryological studies of male sterility have been reported for the first time in Eupatorium tanacetifolium Gill, ex H. et A. (Gyptis pinnatifida Cass.). This species produces viable seeds but abnormal pollen that is not shed by the anthers. There are great abnormalities in karyokinesis and cytokinesis in microsporogenesis that result in irregular sporads formed by 5–10 cells of variable size, shape, and chromosome number. There is an irregular distribution of chromosomes, due to absence of regular pairing and disjunction, presence of chromatinic bridges in most of telophases, and to succesive aberrant cytokinesis without formation of cell plate and with variably oriented walls. The two chromatids of each chromosome presumably remain joined until the end of the process. Somatic chromosome number of 2n = 30 is reported for one population of this species, an apomict taxon of probable triploid origin. Embryo-sac ontogeny is of the Antennaria type of diplospory, wherein embryo and endosperm development are parthenogenetic.     

STUDIES ON THE ECOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF AMPHICARPY IN GYMNARRHENA MICRANTHA (COMPOSITAE)

The 2 types of fruit (aerial and subterranean) borne by the dwarf desert annual Gymnarrhena micrantha were compared with regard to their responses to factors affecting their formation, dispersal, germination and seedling mortality. The 2 types of fruit differed markedly in several respects. In comparison with the subterranean fruits, the aerial ones are much smaller and more numerous, but the formation of the inflorescence in which they develop is more dependent on a favorable supply of soil moisture. The aerial fruits are dispersed by wind, after becoming detached by a complex series of hygroscopic movements which involve several organs and tissues, while the subterranean fruits never leave the dead parent plant, germinating right through its tissues. Germination of the subterranean fruits starts after a shorter incubation period and is less temperature-dependent in both light and dark. Light stimulated germination of both types of fruit, increasing their germination rates and final percentages, but not affecting the duration of the incubation period. In the subterranean fruits, the rate of germination was equally stimulated by light over the entire temperature range, with a well-defined optimum at 15 C in both light and dark. In the aerial fruits, the same optimum was found only in the light, rates in darkness increasing with decreasing temperatures. In the aerial fruits, alternations of light and dark were more favorable to germination than either continuous light or dark, the full effect being obtained with a single 8-hr or 16-hr light period, provided it was preceded by 16 or 8 hr of darkness, respectively. Similar reactions to combinations of light and dark were not observed in the subterranean fruits. Seedlings developing from the subterranean fruits were much larger, but grew at a relatively much slower rate than those from aerial fruits. The former were distinctly more tolerant of unfavorable soil-moisture regimes, such as low moisture supply and drought. It was concluded that the 2 types of fruit serve 2 distinct functions in the biology of the plant. The aerial fruits are adapted to the function of increasing the distribution of the species within suitable habitats, while the subterranean fruits are adapted to increasing the probability of the survival of the species.     

DYSPLOIDY IN HYMENOXYS TEXANA (COMPOSITAE)

The two chromosome numbers recorded for Hymenoxys texana, 2n = 16 and 2n = 6, appear to represent dysploid reductions from the base number, x = 15, for the genus.     

SEED FERTILITY IN TRAGOPOGON HYBRIDS (COMPOSITAE)

The seed fertility of 172 interspecific and 32 intraspecific F₁ hybrids in the genus Tragopogon was determined. Intrageneric barriers to interbreeding were variable; some were weak and others quite strong. Maternal influences on fertility were found in 18 pairs of reciprocal interspecific crosses. It was postulated that cytoplasmic and nuclear factors interacted to determine the level of seed fertility. Although F₁'s were generally sterile or semi-sterile, the proportion of fertile seeds produced in most crosses increased in the F₂ generation. In two cases, however, a significant decrease was observed.     

CYTOGEOGRAPHICAL STUDIES IN THE GENUS ARNICA (COMPOSITAE: SENECIONEAE). I

A total of 134 chromosome counts representing 21 taxa of the genus Arnica are presented. Counts are published here for the first time for A. lonchophylla (n = 38) and A. nevadensis (n = 38). Ten previously unreported counts representing 9 taxa are also presented. The basic chromosome number of the genus is x = 19. With respect to chromosome number, the genus exhibits maximum diversity in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and Wyoming. Arnica angustifolia, A. cordifolia and A. mollis are recognized as mature polyploid complexes, containing several wide ranging polyploid races and only a few highly restricted or scattered diploid races. Within the genus in general, diploids tend to be restricted to unglaciated areas while polyploids are much wider ranging, particularly in unglaciated areas.