Abstract

ALVES, Lânia Isis F.; LIMA, Saulo Antônio A.  and  FELIX, Leonardo P.. Chromosome characterization and variability in some Iridaceae from Northeastern Brazil. Genet. Mol. Biol. [online]. 2011, vol.34, n.2, pp. 259-267. ISSN 1415-4757.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1415-47572011000200016.

The chromosomes of 15 species of Iridaceae of the genera Alophia, Cipura, Eleutherine, Neomarica and Trimezia (subfamily Iridoideae) were examined after conventional Giemsa staining. The karyotypes of Alophia drummondii (2n = 14+1B, 28, 42 and 56), Cipura paludosa (2n = 14), C. xanthomelas (2n = 28) and Eleutherine bulbosa (2n = 12) were asymmetric; Neomarica candida, N. caerulea, N. humilis, N. glauca, N. gracilis, N. northiana and Neomarica sp. (2n = 18); N. cf. paradoxa (2n = 28), Trimezia fosteriana (2n = 52), T. martinicensis (2n = 54) and T. connata (2n = 82) were all generally symmetric. New diploid numbers of 2n = 56 for Alophia drummondii, 2n = 18 for N. candida, N. humilis, N. glauca, and N. gracilis, 2n = 28 for N. cf. paradoxa, and 2n = 82 for T. connata are reported. The karyotypic evolution of the studied species is discussed.

Keywords : Iridaceae; disploidy; karyotypic evolution; polyploidy; asymmetrical karyotype.