KARYOTYPE VARIATION AND EVOLUTION IN THE <i>VICIA SATIV A</i> AGGREGATE

Abstract

S ummary Previous accounts of the chromosome complement of members of the Vicia sativa aggregate and of V. lathyroides are reviewed, and the results of a new survey of 122 strains belonging to four taxa presented. Significant variation in chromosome morphology within each of the three segregates of V. sativa agg. was found; in V. segetalis both 2n = 10 and 2n = 12 was encountered among the cultivated material. In wild V. lathyroides also both 2n = 10 and 2n = 12 populations were found. Reasons are given for considering that this group of vetches shows a reductional evolutionary series 2n = 14 2n = 12 2n = 10, and the inter‐relationships of these three karyotypes are discussed. In addition two counts of 2w = 14 are reported for wild Turkish strains of V. amphicarpa.