Karyological studies in argentinian species of Eryngium (Apiaceae)

Abstract

In this study, mitotic and meiotic counts are informed for 10 species that belong to 5 out of the 7 sections represented in Argentina. The chromosome numbers of E. coronatum (n=8) and E. pristis (2n = 16) constitute the first counts for the species, chromosome numbers that differ from previous counts are given for some species, and counts for other taxa are confirmed. Furthermore, the karyotype analysis of E. ebracteatum is provided, which is the first description for the New World species. Chromosome analysis showed that E. pristis, E. ekmanii, E. ebracteatum, E. elegans, E. coronatum and E. floribundum are diploids and E. pandanifolium is octoploid with x = 8, while E. horridum and E. mudicaule are diploids with x=7. These data demonstrate that the genus is at least dibasic and it is proposed that variation in basic chromosome number may have occurred by dysploid change. Chromosome counts showed that most of the analysed species are diploids, except in section Panniculata, which has a relatively high percentage of polyploid species. Therefore, dysploidy and polyploidy are both mechanism that may have been involved in chromosome number changes during the evolution of Eryngium species.