Variation in DNA C-value and haploid genome size in New Zealand native grasses

Abstract

Flow cytometry has been used to measure the C-values of 29 species in 13 genera of New Zealand native grasses. An almost 18-fold variation was found between the lowest value, 0.78 pg for Zoysia pauciflora, and the highest value, 13.70 pg for Pyrrhanthera exigua. Some of this variation can be attributed to differences in chromosome number or ploidy level but groups of related species with the same chromosome number also show big interspecific differences. A distinction was found in general, between species in genera of tropical origin and those of temperate origin. In several cases there are examples of apparent intraspecific variation that may indicate taxonomic heterogeneity. © 2003 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.