A statistical overview to the chromosome characteristics of some Centaurea L. taxa distributed in the Eastern Anatolia (Turkey)

Abstract

This study performed statistical analyses based on chromosome micromorphology of 18 Centaurea taxa, two of which are endemic. ANOVA, Correlation analysis, Discriminant analysis and Cluster analysis were performed to determine the relationships between taxa based on chromosomal features. In addition, according to the data obtained from these analyses, the relationships between taxa and sections were tried to be interpreted. As a result of the analyses, the taxa C. drabifolia Sm. floccosa (Boiss.) Wagenitz & Greuter, C. kotschyi (Boiss. & Heldr.) Hayek var. floccosa (Boiss.) Wagenitz and C. behen L. and C. polypodiifolia Boiss pseudobehen (Boiss.) Wagenitz were located close to each other. These taxa are located in the same sections in the morphological classification. Besides, in the Discriminant analysis, the taxa of Acrocentron, Microlophus, Cheirolepis sections were closely located compared to all other taxa. However, results were not seen to cover all taxa of the sections. This study revealed various chromosomal characteristics of some Centaurea taxa distributed in the Eastern Anatolia. It also performed statistical analyses on these data. While determining the relationships between taxa according to chromosomal characteristics, comparing chromosomal formulas and indices collectively and evaluating the relationships was found to be relatively consistent with morphological classification.

Comparative karyological analysis of some Turkish Cuscuta L. (Convolvulaceae)

“…For this reason, considering the characters in classical taxonomy, examining the chromosome numbers, structure and structures gives beneficial results in solving the problems (Taşar et al, 2018a;2018b ). In addition, statistical analyzes can be useful in morphological and anatomical studies recently (Genç et al 2021;Arabacı et al 2021;Dirmenci et al 2019;Dirmenci et al 2020;Açar and Satıl 2019;Açar and Taşar 2022). This study aims to reveal the karyological features of Cuscuta species distributed in Turkey, determine the relationships between them, and contribute to the genus's taxonomic classification.…”