Cytotaxonomy of Meliaceae

Abstract

Cytological informations of the family Meliaceae suggest 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 as basic numbers. Numbers have evolved from lower to higher. In Melieae 14 is the basic number. In old Trichilieae the numbers are 9-14, which show different ploidy levels, including aneuploids. Carapa and Xylocarpus are similar in karyology and should be placed as Carapeae near Swietenieae, not with Melieae or Trichilieae. Cedreleae show a wide range of variation 12x2 to 14x4 and a highly advanced chromosome morphology. Calodecaryia (some species), Azadirachta, Dysoxylum, Aphanamixis, Aglaia, Amoora, Sandoricum are primitive and Naregamia, Nymania, Calodecaryla (some species), Lansium, Carapa, Xylocarpus, Capuronianthus, Swie tenia, Cedrela and Toona are advanced. © 1977, Japan Mendel Society, International Society of Cytology. All rights reserved.