Chromosome numbers, karyotypes and 4C DNA contents of Achillea sipikorensis Hausskn. and Bornm. and Achillea sintenisii Hub.-Mor. (Asteraceae)

Abstract

The cytological features including chromosome numbers, detailed chromosome measurements and 4C DNA values were reported in Achillea sipikorensis and A. sintenisii from Turkey. Total chromosome lengths, relative lengths, long/short arm ratios and centromeric index of mitotic chromosomes were calculated. Somatic chromosome numbers were found to be 2n=2x=18 in A. sipikorensis and 2n=4x=36 in A. sintenisii for the first time. The mean of chromosome length ranged from 6.92+/-0.08 to 9.23+/-058 mum in A. sipikorensis and from 6.54+/-0.91 to 9.62+/-0.79 mum in A. sintenisii. The karyotype consists of six pairs metacentric chromosomes, two submetacentric pairs and a subtelocentric pairs in A. sipikorensis and of fifteen pairs metacentric chromosomes, a submetacentric pairs and two subtelocentric pairs in A. sintenisii. The nuclear DNA C-value was estimated to be 4C=24.63+/-0.01 pg of A. sipikorensis and 4C=35.73+/-0.05 pg of A. sintenisii.