Somatic chromosome counts and karyomorphological analysis of 12 Allium (Amaryllidaceae) taxa

Abstract

The genus Allium is a well-known model system for cytological research, and its cytological characteristics are considered important for species identification. In this study, we counted chromosome numbers of 21 populations from 12 taxa comprising seven sections (Butomissa, Sacculiferum, Schoenoprasum, Oreiprason, Reticulatobulbosa, Rhizirideum, Tenuissima) and five subgenera (Butomissa, Cepa, Polyprason, Reticulatobulbosa, Rhizirideum) from Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and South Korea. The chromosome numbers varied with 2n=16 or 2n=32. New ploidy levels were found in A. karelinii (2n=2x=16) and A. burjaticum (2n=2x=16) from Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia, respectively. Photomicrophotographs of metaphase chromosomes and karyotype analyses of all Allium taxa studied are provided.

Keywords

• Allium
• karyotype
• ploidy level
• somatic chromosome count