Comparative Genome Analysis in Two Flax Species by C-Banding Patterns

C-banding patterns of the karyotypes of two closely related wild flax species, Linum austriacumL. (2n= 18) and Linum grandiflorumDesf. (2n= 16), were studied. The karyotypes of both species were similar in the chromosome morphology and size. In each species, metacentric and acrocentric chromosomes (1.7–4.3 m) and one satellite chromosome were observed. In the karyotypes of the species studied, all homologous chromosome pairs were identified, and quantitative idiograms were constructed. Eight chromosome pairs in the two species had similar C-banding patterns. A low level of intraspecific polymorphism in the intercalary and telomeric C-bands was shown in both species. The results indicate that the genomes of two flax species originated from one ancestral genome with the basic chromosome number of 8 or 9. Apparently, the duplication or loss of one chromosome with subsequent redistribution of the chromosome material in the ancestral form resulted in the divergence into two species,L. austriacumL. and L. grandiflorumDesf. A considerable similarity of chromosomes in these species provides evidence for their close phylogenetic relatedness, which makes it possible to place them in one section within the Linumgenus.