The internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA was sequenced from 195 representative species of Allium, two species of Nothoscordum, and one species each of lpheion, Dichelostemma, and Tulbaghia. Within the Allium species the lengths of the ITS regions were in a range from 612 to 661 base pairs and pairwise genetic distances reached up to 46%. The ITS data supported the inclusion of Nectaroscordum, Caloscordum, and Milula into Allium. Subgenera Rhizirideum and Allium, as well as sects.

This chapter discusses the genus Allium spp. in terms of general characteristics; distribution, ecology and domestication; and phylogeny and classification. The other topics covered include: the section Cepa (morphology, distribution and ecology; cytological limitations; grouping of the species; enumeration of the species); Allium cepa (description and variability; infraspecific classification; evolutionary lineages; history of domestication and cultivation); other economic species (garlic and garlic-like forms; taxa of Asiatic origin; chives and locally important onions from other areas).

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