Chromosome Number and Meiotic Behavior of Cultivated Chia, Salvia hispanica (Lamiaceae)

Abstract

<jats:p>Edible chia seeds, purchased from the local markets in Guatemala, Mexico, and southern California, were used for species identification, chromosome counts, karyotype construction, and meiotic analyses. Plants raised from those seeds had ovate leaves, dense racemose inflorescences, pale-blue flowers, and were identified from herbarium specimens as <jats:italic>Salvia hispanica</jats:italic> L. Mitotic analyses of root tips from 50 plants showed <jats:italic>2n =</jats:italic> 12—the lowest chromosome number in the genus. Chromosomes were small, ranging from 2 to 3.5 pm<jats:sup>.</jats:sup> One pair of chromosomes was metacentric (with the long arm: short arm ratio, r = 1.5), four pairs were submetacentric (r = 2.6 to 3.6), and one pair was telocentric (r = 12). Meiosis was regular and six bivalents were observed at metaphase I. Ring and rod bivalents averaged 1.53 ± 1.05 and 4.47 ± 1.05, respectively;</jats:p>

Omega-3 fatty acid desaturase gene family from two ω-3 sources, Salvia hispanica and Perilla frutescens: Cloning, characterization and expression

“…Until now, no completed genome data from chia and perilla could be used as an important reference. Though traditional literatures report that chia is a diploid/amphiploid while perilla is an amphidiploid [ 1 , 3 ], the inter-sister identities within each of PfFAD3a/b , PfFAD7a/b , and PfFAD8a/b pairs are as high as that of ShFAD7a/b pair. This result is likely that these 4 pairs are 4 heterozygous allelic pairs other than 8 independent genes, and perilla might be originated from amphidiploidization between 2 subspecies or 2 closely related species.…”

“…In the family Lamiaceae, chia ( Salvia hispanica , 2n = 12) and perilla ( Perilla frutescens , 2n = 40), which are annual herbaceous plants, are 2 rich sources of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Chia is native to Mexico and parts of South America, and perilla originated in Asia [ 1 – 4 ]. Chia and perilla seeds contain 25~40% oil, and ɑ-linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3 Δ9,12,15 ) proportion in their seed oil is the highest among crop sources (about 60~71%) [ 5 – 7 ].…”

A near complete genome assembly of chia assists in identification of key fatty acid desaturases in developing seeds

“…In this study, we assembled a high-quality chia genome using accurate consensus long reads (PacBio HiFi reads) and genome-wide chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C). The chia genome is known to have 6 chromosomes (2 n = 12) ( Estilai et al., 1990 ), which in our study are composed of 21 main contigs, with telomere repeats at 8 ends of the chromosomes. Utilizing this highly accurate and complete genome, we annotated transposable elements and protein-coding genes in the chia genome.…”

Contribution to cytology of genusSalviaL. (Lamiaceae) in Iran

“…Cytological studies of the Salvia have been mainly focused on chromosome number reports and karyotype analysis (for example ÖZDEMIR and SENEL 1999;YILDIZ and GÜCEL 2006;PALO-MINO et al 1986;AL-TURKY et al 2000;FOLEY et al 2008;AFZAL-RAFII 1976;1981;PATUDIN et al 1975;MIZIANTI et al 1981;HAQUE 1981;BORGEN 1980;DÍAZ-LIFANTE et al 1992;LEE 1967), while study of the chromosomes behavior in meiosis is very scare (BAHATTACHARYA 1978;GHAFFARI and CHARIAT-PANAHI 1985;ESTILAI and HASHEMI 1990). We hope by studying meiotic peculiarities of Salvia species, a better understanding of species relationships would be obtained in future.…”