Cytogenetic Studies in Some Species of Melica L. and Milium L. in Iran

Abstract

Cytogenetical studies were performed on 15 populations of 7 species and subspecies of the genus Melica as well as 4 populations of 2 species of the genus Milium growing wild in Iran. The meiotic analysis of Melica and Milium species studied showed the occurrence of a post pachytene diffuse stage possibly due to adaptation to adverse environmental conditions. Melica species studied possess 2n=2x=18 chromosome number. The chromosome numbers of M. persica subsp. persica and M. persica subsp. inaequiglumis have been reported for the first time. The ANOVA test performed among Melica species and populations studied, revealed a significant difference in the amount of total, terminal and intercalary chiasmata as well as amount of rod bivalents (p<0.01), indicating partly their genetic differences. Two populations of Milium vernale showed the presence of 2n=2x=14 and 2n=2x=18, while two populations of M. schmidtianum possessed 2n=2x=14 chromosome number, which is new for M. chmidtianum.