Differentiation of Nolana and Sclerophylax (Solanaceae) by means of heterochromatin and rDNA patterns

NOELIA LUJEA; FRANCO CHIARINI

New Zealand Journal of Botany

RSNZ PUBLISHING

Lugar: Auckland; Año: 2016

0028-825X

Within Solanaceae, Nolana L. f. and Sclerophylax Miers are two genera which have diserved special attention because of their rare anatomical characteristics. However, they are poorly known from the cytogenetic perspective. In order to discuss their chromosome features in an evolutionary context, classical staining, chromomycin A3/4´-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (CMA/DAPI) fluorescent banding and in situ hybridization (FISH) with probes for the 18-5.8-26S and the 5S rDNA loci were applied to root tips of germinating seeds. All the species presented the chromosome number 2n = 24. Karyotypes were highly symmetric, with most chromosomes being metacentric and with a maximum of three submetacentric pairs in N. divaricata. The CMA/DAPI banding technique, assayed for the first time in Sclerophylax, showed CMA+/DAPI- bands associated with NORs in the first metacentric chromosome pair in each species. The FISH technique (applied to four species of Sclerophylax and for the first time in one species of Nolana) showed that the 18-5.8-26S loci coincide with CMA+/DAPI- bands. Three Sclerophylax species presented two pairs of 5S signals, whereas S. adnatifolia showed three. The rDNA loci resulted as asyntenic in Sclerophylax, but were localized in the same chromosome in N. divaricata. Despite the morphological peculiarities of Nolana and Sclerophylax, the chromosome number and karyotype features are consistent with the position of the two genera within the ?x = 12 clade?, while the number and position of rDNA loci established the chromosome rearrangements, suggesting different evolutionary pathways with respect to their closest relatives, Lycium and Jaborosa.