Characterization of the Species Epidendrum cinnabarium Salzm. (Epidendroideae: Orchidaceae) Occurring in Dunas Do Abaete-Salvador, Ba-Brasil

Abstract

Summary This work has as its purpose to analyze the Epidendrum cinnabarium species, which can be found within the "Environment Protection Area of Abaeté Lakes and Dunes" ("Área de Proteção Ambiental das Lagoas e Dunas de Abaeté")-APA/Abaeté, Salvador, Bahia State-Brazil. As for the cytogenetic aspects it aims at determining the chromosome number, on the ploidy level, the types of interphasic nuclei, and at evaluating the possible meiotic irregularities of this species. In the mitotic analysis, radicular meristem has been pre-treated with 8-hydroxyquinoline and colored with aid of the Feulgen method. In order to carry out the meiotic analysis, microsporocytes were prepared by squashing and staining with 0.2% propionic carmine. The results showed 2nХ240, suggesting the occurrence of poliploidy, an interphasic nucleus of the semi-reticulate type with the presence of chromocenters displaying a variable number, besides an irregular meiotic behavior, with the presence of laggard chromosomes and laggard chromatids, as well eventually anaphasic bridges and a low percentage of abnormal tetrads.Key words Orchidaceae, Epidendrum, Chromosome.The Epidendrum Linnaeus genus has a vast distribution in America, from North Carolina, in the United States, to Argentina, whereas in Brazil it is well represented by several endemical species. These orchids are extremely variabale in what concerns the habitat requirements, being mainly an epiphyte species, in spite of the fact that some are lithophytes, and others are terrestrial. The number of species in this genus is quite variable, since it used to include some species which are now classified under such genera, as Encyclia, Osterdella, Psychilus, Nanodes, among others. In the Epidendrum genus, the number of estimated species approaches 900 (Philips and Hill 1988), but the cytogenetical knowledge about this Epidendrum genus is still a limited one.From the 900 already known species, there are registrations of chromosome countings for only 40 of them, which represents only 4.4% of the genus. The somatic number varies form 2nϭ24 to 2nϭ240 (Moore 1973, Golldblat 1981, 1985, 1988, Golldblat and Johnson, 1991, 1994, 1996, 1998, Blumenschein 1957, Tanaka and Kamemoto 1984, Félix and Guerra, 2000, and the majority of the taxons has 2nϭ40. The presence of nϭ20, in many representatives, suggests that the basic primary number is xϭ20.E. cinnabarium, originary from Brazil, is basically characterized by the presence of elongated stems without pseudobulbs, with flowers developing on a terminal spike. With the objective to contribute for the cytogenectic knowledge of this species, this work aims both at determining the number of chromosomes as well as the ploidiy level, at analyzing the types of interphasical nuclei, as

Interploidy hybridization in sympatric zones: the formation ofEpidendrum fulgens × E. puniceoluteumhybrids (Epidendroideae,Orchidaceae)

“…A closely related polyploid species, E. cinnabarinum Salzm., had a reduced meiotic normality index (66% in meiosis II) and low tetrad viability (8.2%), suggesting an unbalanced gamete formation (Da Conceição et al. ). However, considering that no aneuploid gametes were observed in E. puniceoluteum and that crossings involving hybrids as the pollen donor did not form seeds (Pinheiro et al.…”

Karyology of the genusEpidendrum(Orchidaceae: Laeliinae) with emphasis on subgenusAmphiglottiumand chromosome number variability inEpidendrum secundum

“…Karyological variations were observed, especially in subgenus Amphiglottium ; data from the literature and new counts for nine species in the present work show numerical variation from 2 n = 24 to 2 n = 240. Previous counts of 2 n = 240 for E. cinnabarinum (Guerra, ; Conceição et al ., ; Felix & Guerra, ), 2 n = 40 for E. paniculatum Ruiz & Pav. (Tanaka & Kamemoto, ) and 2 n = 80 for E. nocturnum (Blumenschein, ) were confirmed.…”

“…*B60, Blumenschein (); TK84, Tanaka & Kamemoto (); G00, Guerra (); CO06, Conceição et al . (); PI09, Pinheiro et al . (); FG10, Felix & Guerra ().…”

“…The species from the Atlantic clade in subgenus Amphiglottium show chromosome numbers ranging from 2 n = 24 in E. fulgens (Pinheiro et al ., ) to c . 2 n = 240 in E. cinnabarinum (Guerra, ; Conceição, Oliveira & Barabosa, ; Felix & Guerra, ). In addition, six different cytotypes are known in E. secundum Jacq.…”

Research Article Chromosome variations and diversity of Epidendrum ibaguense Lindl. (Orchidaceae) on the Tepequém's Tepuy, Roraima, Brazil.

“…However, dysploidy (loss or gain of chromosomes) has been considered the most important evolutionary events in Orchidaceae (Felix and Guerra, 2010), while in plants as a whole, as well as in many orchid genera, polyploidy plays such a role Guerra, 2000, 2005;Conceição et al, 2006).…”