Cytogenetic study on some Fritillaria species of Iran.

Five species (14 ecotypes) belonging to three subgenera of ornamental-medicinal Iranian Fritillaria plant were chromosomally and karyotypically assessed, using squash technique and 1 % (w/v) aceto-orcein stain. All species were diploid (2 n = 2 x = 24) having mean chromosome length of 16.8 μm (14.2-18.6 μm). The satellites varied in number (1-4 pairs) and in size (1.27-3.01 μm): mostly locating on long arms. Four chromosome types ('m', 'sm', 'st', 'T') formed 11 different karyotypic formulas: the latter is being reported for the first time in some ecotypes in either S1 or S4. Nine chromosomal parameters were calculated. ANOVA verified intra- and inter-specific chromosomal variation in examined Iranian Fritillaria species. Twelve different methods were used to assess the degree of karyotype asymmetry. Among those, one qualitative (Stebbins classification) and seven quantitative (TF %, CV, DI, AsK %, A2, Rec, CG %) parameters verified that S2 and S5 species were recognized as having the most asymmetrical and symmetrical karyotypes, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]