Karyomorphological Studies in Genus Anthemis spp. (Anthemideae)

Chamomile (Anthemis L.), an important medicinal plant belonging to the Asteraceae family, is widely distributed in Iran and other parts of the world, with ۱۷۵ species. We can study chromosome characteristics such as chromosome numbers and karyotype characteristics to realize genetic variation within and between species and their populations. In the present study, we examined the details of the chromosome number and karyological characteristics analysis of ۲۵ populations representing four Anthemis species (A. altissima, A. hausssknechtii, A. trimfettii, and A. pseudocotula) from geographically isolated regions of Iran. Specific staining method and microscopic observation showed somatic chromosome number ۲n=۱۸ for all populations, which were confirmed by the previous data. Analysis of the karyotype formula showed a dominance of metacentric chromosomes in almost all of them. The largest chromosome and genome length belonged to two populations of A. pseudocotula species. Populations of A. pseudocotula have chromosome size, and populations of A. haussknechtii have morphology chromosome variation. A cluster analysis of the tested accessions, at ۱۱.۱۹ genetic distance, created three main groups that showed the similarity of members of each group. Additionally, the level of symmetric karyotypes estimated by karyotype characters and the role of each trait in the variation of species and their populations are argued. Genetic variations were confirmed between diploid populations, for different karyotype characters. Observed variation mainly caused by the morphology of chromosomes, and that, its contribution was important in discriminating the populations. We hope these data will be used in future investigations as basic information for breeding and hybridization between species and their populations.

Keywords:

Anthemis , Chamomile , Chromosome , Cytogenetics , Karyotype , Symmetric