A Karyomorphological Study on the Genus <i>Muscari</i> Miller Growing in Turkey

Abstract

The chromosome numbers and karyotypes of eight species of the genus Muscari distributed in Turkey were analyzed. These taxa are M. macrocarpum Sweet, M. racemosum Mill., M. aucheri (Boiss.) Baker, M. armeniacum Leichtlin ex Baker, M. sivrihisardaghlarensis Yıldırımlı & B. Selvi, M. discolor Boiss. & Hausskn, M. botryoides (L.) Mill. and M. neglectum Guss. Five of them (M. racemosum, M. aucheri, M. sivrihisardaghlarensis, M. discolor, and M. botryoides) are endemic in Turkey. The chromosome number of all studied taxa were determined as 2n=2x=18, while M. neglectum had the chromosome number of 2n=4x= 36. Haploid chromosome lengths varied 24.94 µm (M. armeniacum) to 119.85 µm (M. racemosum) among species. Karyotype analysis indicated that Muscari taxa generally have a median point (M), median (m), and submedian (sm) chromosomes. In addition, only M. racemosum has one subterminal (st) chromosome pair. Satellites were observed in M. racemosum and M. botryoides. The karyotypes of M. sivrihisardaghlarensis was determined for the first time in this study.

Karyomorphological Studies of Six Species of Turkish <i>Muscari</i> (Asparagaceae)

“…Eker (2019b) reported that Muscari pamiryigidii is similar to M. armeniacum, M. aucheri, and M. bourgaei, but is easily distinguished from them by its shorter stems, dark brown outer tunics, prominently veined humistrate, and spreading leaves. As with suitable this morphological differences, karyotypes of this endemic species are seen quite comparing to M. armeniacum, M. aucheri and M. bourgaei (Table 4;Karlén 1984b, Demirci Kayıran and Özhatay 2017, Kiran et al 2020b Eker and Yıldırım (2021) reported that M. inundatum is morphologically similar to M. neglectum and M. adilii, but differs mainly by its shouldered fertile flowers with erect to slightly recurved lobes at maturity. Karyotypes of this endemic species are quite distinct from M. neglectum (Table 4; Karlén 1984b, Jafari et al 2008, Demirci Kayıran and Özhatay 2017, Kiran et al 2020b.…”

“…In addition, he reported that the satellites are situated on the short arms of the second pair. Kiran et al (2020b) reported the karyotype of M. botryoides as 14m+2sm+2sm SAT . Therefore, we can interpret the karyotypes of this endemic species are partly similar to M. armeniacum in terms of having 7m and 2sm chromosomes (Table 4 for M. armeniacum ;Karlén 1984a, b, Demirci Kayıran and Özhatay 2017, Kiran et al 2020b.…”

“…Kiran et al (2020a) reported that the TCL of 11 species in the subgenus Leopoldia ranged from 44 to 67 µm. In addition, Kiran et al (2020b) reported that the TCL of the taxa in the subgenus Botryanthus varied from 24 to 32 µm. The TCL value of the M. muglaensis (TCL: 55 µm), which is a member of the Leopoldia, is compatible with the values.…”

Phylogeny based generic reclassification of Muscari sensu lato (Asparagaceae) using plastid and genomic DNA

“…In addition, Garbari & Greuter (1970) used caryology to argue for their classification, but based on a relatively small species sample (Speta, 1982), with only marginal overlap with our sampling. Current karyomorphological studies (Kiran & al., 2020) may still expand our understanding of the lineages. Seed morphology has also been used in Asparagaceae (Pfosser & al., 2003) in general and in Muscari in Turkey (Eroğlu & al., 2021), but without providing useful insights into the phylogenetic relationship in Muscari .…”

Muscari commutatum (Asparagaceae), A New Record for the Flora of Turkey

“…Muscari türlerinin çoğunluğu diploid (2n=2x=18) iken, birkaç popülasyon poliploiddir (Stuart 1970;Karlén 1984;Dalgıç 1991;Johnson 1994;Özhatay & Johnson 1996;Johnson & Brandham 1997;Demirci Kayıran & Özhatay 2017;Kıran vd. 2020a;2020b;Bozkurt 2020).…”