Karyotype analysis in Plantago II

Abstract

1) The karyotypes of six species were studied and the results are formulated as follows;
Plantago camtschatica Chamisso
K(2n)=12=2^csA₁^m+2A₂^sm+2^csB^m+2C₁^sm+2C₂^sm+2^tD^t
P. coronopus L.
K(2n)=10=2^tcs_csA^sm+2B^sm+2C^tC^st+2D^sm+2E^m
P. lanceolata L.
K(2n)=12=2_csA^sm+2B^sm+2C^sm+2D^m+2E^st+2F^st
P. virginica L.
K(2n)=24=2A₁^sm+2A₂^m+2B^sm+4C^sm+2D^sm+4E^m+4F^m+4G^sm
P. psyllium L.
K(2n)=12=2^csA₁^m+2^csA₂^sm+2B^sm+2_tC₁^sm+2^tC₂^sm+2^tD^m
P. indica L.
K(2n)=12=2^csA₁^m+2^csA₂^sm+2B₁^sm+2(_cs)B₂^st+2C^st+2(_cs)D^st
2) The karyotypes of subgenus psyllium are essentially similar to those of subgenus Euplantago.
3) In Plantago, many species are found to have the basic number x=6 and only a few with x=5 or x=4. Having a pair of conspicuously large, metacentric (White 1945) chromosomes, the karyotype of P. coronopus, x=5., is characteristic and clearly distinguished from those of the species with x=6.
4) P. indica is partially related to P. psyllium, karyotypically. P. psyllium has a symmetrical karyotype and is regarded as a primitive species. P. indica, having an asymmetrical karyotype, is a differenciated species.
5) Karyotypically, P. virginica is an allotetraploid.