Cytology of SW Asian Chenopodiaceae: new data from Iran and a review of previous records and correlations with life forms and C4 photosynthesis

The mitotic chromosome numbers of 35 species belonging to 25 genera from East Azerbaijan Province of Iran and meiotic numbers of five species of Salicornia from different parts of Iran of family Chenopodiaceae are reported. Some of them are first reports and some are first counts from Iran. Based on...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Plant systematics and evolution 2015-02, Vol.301 (2), p.501-521
Main Authors: Ghaffari, Seyed Mahmood, Balaei, Zhila, Chatrenoor, Targol, Akhani, Hossein
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
annuals
Biomedical and Life Sciences
C4 photosynthesis
Chenopodiaceae
chromosome number
Chromosomes
Cytology
cytotypes
Deserts
Ecosystems
Flowering
Genera
Life Sciences
Meiosis
New records
Niches
Nomenclature
perennials
Photosynthesis
Phylogeny
Plant Anatomy/Development
Plant Ecology
Plant Sciences
Plant Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography
Plants (botany)
Polyploidy
REVIEW
Salicornia
Species
Spinacia
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Summary:The mitotic chromosome numbers of 35 species belonging to 25 genera from East Azerbaijan Province of Iran and meiotic numbers of five species of Salicornia from different parts of Iran of family Chenopodiaceae are reported. Some of them are first reports and some are first counts from Iran. Based on a review of previously published reports, 145 species and 46 genera occurring in SW Asia have been cytologically studied either based on populations within or surrounding regions. The nomenclature and generic position of all these species are updated based on recent phylogenetic and taxonomic studies. The polyploidy percentage of 26.2 % is beyond the average known in flowering plants, which is surprising for dominant plants of saline and desert ecosystems. The polyploidy of annual plants is only 16 % and that of perennials 19 %, respectively. It was found that C₄plants represent lower polyploidy levels than C₃plants. This is correlated by the fact that large number of annuals in the area is C₄and secondly, polyploidy may constrain niche advantageous in C₄plants. However, presence of different cytotypes in the widespread species is advantageous as they can occupy different niches. The basic chromosome numbers in chenopods is x = 9 with few derived exceptions in Spinacia (x = 6), Camphorosma (x = 6) and some species of Petrosimonia (x = 8).
ISSN:0378-2697
1615-6110
2199-6881
DOI:10.1007/s00606-014-1109-6