J Syst Evol ›› 1984, Vol. 22 ›› Issue (1): 43-45.

• Research Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Karyotype Analysis in Lycoris longituba Y. Hsu et Fan

Hsu Ping-Sheng, Huang Shao-Fu, Mao Zong-Guo, Yu Zhi-Zhou, Lin Jin-Zhen   

  • Published:1984-02-18

Abstract: A karyotypic analysis of Lycoris longituba Y. Hsu et Fan was carried out. The voucher specimen, Z. G. Mao 10501, is preserved in the Herbarium of Hangchow Botanical Garden. The chromosome number in root tip cells of the species is found for the first time to be 16, among which 6 are large, V-shaped with submedian primary constrictions, and the other 10 are short, rod-shaped with terminal primary constrictions. Photomicrograph of the chromosome complement and idiogram are given in Fig. 1-3 respectively. The karyotype formula of the species is therefore 2n=16=6m+6t+4t (SAT) in the light of the chromosomal terminology defined by Levan and al.[5] Based on the view stressed by Jones[3] and Brandham[4], successive fusion of the chromosomes should be taken as the essential mechanism for karyotype evolution and speciation in Lycoris. Reciprocal translocation, with the loss of one of the centromeres, might be the mechanism of origin for a V chromosome. It is, then, suggested that the decrease in chromosome number as a result of fusion of the rods with terminal or subterminal primaryconstrictions has taken place in the speciation of L. longituba.

Key words: Lycoris, L.longituba, Karyotype