Karyomorphological Studies of the Populations Belonging to Psephellus aucherianus (DC.) Boiss. (Asteraceae) Complex

Abstract

The chromosome numbers and karyotypes belonging to populations of Psephellus aucherianus complex were discussed by this paper. The chromosome numbers of all populations were determined as 2n=30. Karyomorphological results indicated that the populations of Ps. aucherianus complex display a broad variation and differ from each other in some aspects. Mainly, the karyotype formula could be evaluated as very specific and discriminative for each taxa, even their populations. Otherwise, the chromosomal indices indicated that all populations had largely symmetrical karyotypes and low chromosomal heterogeneity as a common chromosomal pattern within this complex. As a general result, we can infer that the species of these complex can be clearly characterized and separated according to karyomorphologic features and more importantly, chromosome pattern and rearrangements are very useful and informative to explain theirs evolutionary interactions as well changes.