Abstract
To clarify the chromosomal evolution among the 3 sections (Absinthium, Artemisia, Dracunculus) of Japanese Artemisia, we use numerical cytogenetic analysis based on karyotypes. The intra- (A1) and interchromosomal (A2) asymmetry index, which does not depend on chromosome number or chromosome size. Our asymmetry index based on A1 value has indicated that the chromosomes in some Japanese Artemisia evolved in order of section Dracunculus, Absinthium and Artemisia. The A1 index indicated that x=9 was the ancestral basic chromosome number of this genus while x=8 was advanced, and based on x=17 was plotted between speies with x=9 and x=8.
