Advances in chromosomal studies in Neottieae (Orchidaceae): Constitutive heterochromatin, chromosomal rearrangements and speciation

Abstract

— In this work, we describe a karyomorphological study on three taxa of the tribe Neottieae (Orchidaceae). Epipactis aspromontana and E. schubertiorum are characterized by a chromosome complement of 2n = 2× = 38. Significant differences in heterochromatin distribution were found between them. Similarities in the karyotype structure and C-banding of E. schubertiorum and E. helleborine group have been observed. A specimen of E. aspromontana showed a triploid chromosome number. The meiosis are characterized by univalent, bivalent and trivalent forms and in some somatic metaphase cells has been possible to observe a series of aneuploid numbers with 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52 and 53 chromosomes. The largest differences can be emphasized between the Epipactis species and Neottia nidusavis, mainly in the the karyomorphology and heterochromatin distributions. In Neottia nidusavis the evolution process seems to be determined by reversing Robertsonian mutations. © 2010 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.