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Plant Biol (Stuttg) 2006; 8(1): 73-80
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-872821
Research Paper

Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart KG · New York

Ploidy Level Variability in South American Fescues (Festuca L., Poaceae): Use of Flow Cytometry in Up to 5 1/2-Year-Old Caryopses and Herbarium Specimens

P. Šmarda1 , D. Stančík2
  • 1Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University in Brno, Kotlářská 2, CZ-611 37 Brno, Czech Republic
  • 2Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Benátská 2, CZ-128 01 Praha 2, Czech Republic
Further Information

Publication History

Received: July 17, 2005

Accepted: August 1, 2005

Publication Date:
22 December 2005 (online)

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Abstract

Ploidy levels and chromosome numbers for 24 species of Festuca L. from 29 sites in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela are given. The ploidy level of 22 species is reported for the first time. A higher proportion of tetraploids in northern South America and the high frequency of polyploids in the whole continent are documented. In combination with chromosome counts, ploidy level was determined using flow cytometry in 4- to 5 œ ‐year-old herbarium specimens and mature caryopses. Flow cytometric determination from seeds was more reliable than determination from herbarium specimens. In herbarium specimens, the youngest, fresh green leaves, still hidden in sheaths, seem to be most suitable for cytometric determination. In old, brownish leaves, or poorly preserved herbarium specimens, the degradation of DNA signal in flow histograms was documented. DNA content measured in seeds was always higher than that measured in herbarium specimens, which may be caused by the presence of different cytosolic compounds. Differences of about 15 % in relative DNA content of F. sodiroana and F. vaginalis was found in simultaneous measurements in seeds.

Key words

Polyploidy - chromosome number - Andes - biogeography - desiccated tissue.

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P. Šmarda

Department of Botany
Faculty of Science
Masaryk University in Brno

Kotlářská 2

CZ-611 37 Brno

Czech Republic

Email: smardap@sci.muni.cz

Editor: F. Salamini