Full Length Research Paper

Chromosome numbers of two Colchicum L. species, C. burttii and C. balansae, from Turkey

Levent Şık¹*, Teoman Kesercioğlu² and Feyza Candan¹

¹Department of Biology, Science and Art Faculty, Celal Bayar University, Muradiye-Manisa/Turkey.

²Department of Science Educations, Buca Education Faculty, Dokuz Eylul University, Buca-Izmir/Turkey.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: levents@bayar.edu.tr. Tel.: +90.236.2412151.

Accepted 13 July, 2009

   Abstract

Chromosome numbers and morphologies for Colchicum burttii Meikle and Colchicum balansae Planchon showing distribution in western Anatolia were studied. Squashing preparation method was used. The chromosome counting and morphologies of the species were determined by examining the mitosis prepared from root tips of plants. Chromosome number of C. burttii is 2n = 60 + 2B, showing that this species is hexaploid (x = 10). On the other hand, chromosome number of C. balansae is found as 2n = 90. Formerly, chromosome number of this species was reported as 2n = 32, 54 and 108. In conclusion, chromosome number of the sample obtained with this investigation is different from previous studies. 2n = 90 chromosome number is a basic polyploid (hexaploid) with x₂ = 15 (15*6 = 90), involving the summation of the primary basic numbers, 7 and 8.

Key words: Chromosome number, chromosome morphology, Colchicum spp., Turkey.