Further cytogenetical studies on diploid and polyploid species of Eryngium L. (Saniculoideae, Apiaceae) from Argentina

O'LEARY NATALY; CALVIÑO CAROLINA; MARTÍNEZ SUSANA; GREIZERSTEIN EDUARDO; POGGIO LIDIA

HEREDITAS

Blackwell Publishing

Lugar: Oxon, Oxford, Inglaterra; Año: 2004 vol. 140 p. 129 - 133

0018-0661

Meiotic studies are carried out in 7 species of Eryngium L.(Saniculoideae, Apiaceae), belonging to both sections Foetida andPanniculata. The chromosome number of E. dorae Norm. (n /8) (Foetida) isreported for the first time, while the gametic chromosome number of E.nudicaule Lam. (n /7) (Foetida) and E. eburneum Decne. (n /8), E. horridumMalme (n /8), E.megapotamicum Malme (n /16), E. mesopotamicum Pedersen(n /24), and E. pandanifolium Cham. et Schlechtd. (n /24)( all belongingto Panniculata) is confirmed in several natural populations. Whereas insection Foetida all species are diploids and two basic chromosome numbersare present (x /8 and x /7), in section Panniculata all species are x /8but there are three different ploidy levels (diploid, tetraploid,hexaploid). This study reveals that meiosis in all species is normal, withregular bivalent formation in all studied cells. Furthermore, the pollenstainability is above 80% in all cases. These data, together with theprevious karyotype analyses, will contribute to the clarification of therelationships between members of both sections, where different mechanismsof speciation have been postulated.