KARYOTYPIC STUDIES IN SOLANUM SECTION BASARTHRUM (SOLANACEAE)

Abstract

Mitotic chromosomes of 450 individuals, representing 59 accessions of 18 of the 22 species of Solanum sect. Basarthrum were studied. Statistical analyses of chromosome length, genome length, and centromere position yielded estimates of karyotype composition and asymmetry. A generalized karyotype of the section shows that most of the chromosomes are metacentric (44%) or submetacentric (53%). A general trend emerged: the greater the total genome length, the more asymmetric the karyotype. However, karyotype asymmetry does not seem to be based on major chromosomal rearrangements. There is variation in species groups in the karyotype formula, and chromosome length differences were useful in distinguishing series. Patterns of cytological variation reinforce the systematic arrangement of the taxa based on morphological, chemical, and molecular studies. Chromosomal differences characterize most of the species. Five species bear subtelocentric chromosomes, two have telocentrics, and two have satellites. The genomes of the staminate and pistillate plants of the dioecious S. appendiculatum are identical. Of the species proposed as progenitors of the domesticated cultigen S. muricatum, S. caripense is the most similar karyotypically.