Karyological studies on some taxa of the genus Vicia L. (Fabaceae)

Abstract

Karyological studies on 16 species of Vicia L., including 10 species from the Egyptian flora are presented. Chromosome counts are observed for two species for the first time (2n=10 in V. cinerea and V. nigra). A diploid number of 2n=10 (x=5) has been found in 4 species, 2n=12 (x=6) in 2 species and 2n=14 (x=7) was recorded in 10 species V. hirsuta was found to have 2 B-chromosomes. The karyotype in the examined species is more or less symmetric. However, considerable variations exist in chromosome size among the species studied. The results of the present study confirm that x=7 may be considered the basic number in the genus.