Atefeh Aghakoochaki - Department of Plant Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran
Maneezheh Pakravan - Department of Plant Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran

The genus Carthamus, a member of the family Asteraceae, includes about ۲۵ species worldwide and ۷ species in Iran. In this study, chromosome numbers and karyotypes of ۱۳ populations of five species of the genus Carthamus (Asteraceae family) were investigated. Also, the pollen sterility percentage was calculated for each species. The findings confirmed the triploid chromosome numbers for two species, C. tinctorius and C. dentatus, respectively with ۲۴ and ۲۰ chromosomes, aligning with previous reports. C. lanatus was identified as a polyploid with ۴۴ chromosomes. Additionally, one population of C. dentatus was recognized as a triploid with ۳۰ chromosomes as a first-time report. Among the three populations of C. turkestanicus studied, two populations confirmed the previously reported allopolyploid with ۶۴ chromosomes, while one exhibited a new finding of ۶۰ chromosomes. Karyotype analyses revealed that all populations possess asymmetrical karyotypes. The karyotype formulas were as follow: ۴m+ ۵sm+ ۲st+ t for C. tinctorius (۲n= ۲x= ۲۴), M+ ۱۹m+ ۲Sm for C. lanatus, M+ ۷m+ ۲sm for C. dentatus (۲n= ۲x= ۲۰), M+۷m+۲Sm for the population of C. dentatus with ۲n= ۳۰, and M+ ۱۷m+ ۱۳sm+ T for C. turkestanicus (۲n= ۶۴).  A cluster analysis by Ward method has separated the diploid and polyploids species. These karyological data significantly enhance our understanding of Carthamus and will prove to be a valuable resource for future research on this genus.

Chromosome, Iran, Karyology, Polyploidy