Abstract: | Chromosome numbers and analyses of meiotic metaphase I are reported for the following taxa: Agropyron cristatum subsp. incanum (2n= 42), A. cristatum subsp. pecttnatum (2n=28 – 33), Elymus elongatus subsp. ponticus (2n= 69, 70), E. hispidus var. hispidus (2n= 41 43), var. podperae (2n= 42) and var. villosus (2n= 41, 42), E. libanoticus (2n= 14), E. pertenuis (2n= 28, 28+1B), E. repens (2n= 42), E. transhyrcanus (2n= 40–42), E. hispidus var. villosus x E. cf. repens (2n= 42). Chromosome numbers only are reported for the following taxa: E. gentri (2n= 41, 42), E. nodosus subsp. dorudicus (2n= 28), and E. elongatiformis (2n= 56, 57). The haploid genomic constitution SP is reported for Elymus pertenuis. Variable chromosome numbers (2n= 28–32) were observed in the meiotic metaphase I within single anthers of Agropyron cristatum subsp. pectinatum, and the supernumerary chromosomes in this taxon are assumed to have originated from crosses with hexaploids. Partial elimination of these supernumerary chromosomes probably occurs during archesporial mitotic divisions or at an early stage in the meiotic cycle. A hybrid, morphologically intermediate between E. hispidus and E. repens, was obtained from a seed of E. hispidus collected in the field. The meiotic metaphase I configuration in this E. hispidus hybrid suggests that the pollen parent may itself be a hybrid or hybrid derivative of E. repens x E. hispidus. |