Original scientific paper

Karyotypes of Allium senescens L. ssp. montanum (Fries) Holub populations from the Mt. Biokovo region

Višnja Besendorfer ; Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Croatia
Klaudija Šop ; Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Croatia
Marija-Edita Šolić ; Mountain and the Sea Institute, Makarska, Croatia

Abstract

The karyotypes of three Allium senescens ssp. montanum (Fries) Holub populations from the Mt Biokovo region were investigated. This species has been poorly cytogenetically analysed, and with respect to Croatian populations such investigations have never been carried out. The chromosome number, morphology and distribution of heterochromatin were investigated. The number, position and activity of nucleolar organising regions (NORs) were also analysed. In all three populations, only plants with a tetraploid (2n = 4x = 32) chromosome complement were found. The chromosome complement consisted of seven groups of four metacentric and one group of four submetacentric chromosomes bearing the satellite on the short arm. Chromosomes exhibit four types of Giemsa C-bands: telomeric, intercalary, centromeric bands and those located on satellites. Eight chromosomes with the characteristic banding pattern were distinguished. Silver staining revealed a maximum of four nucleoli that corresponded to the maximum number of active NORs (Ag-NORs) located terminally on the short arm of four submetacentric chromosomes. The results obtained suggest that A. senescens ssp. montanum from the Mt Biokovo region is an autotetraploid species.

Keywords

Allium senescens ssp. montanum; karyotype; Giemsa C-banding; nucleolar organising regions; silver staining

Hrčak ID:

160835

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/160835

Publication date:

31.12.2001.

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