NEW CHROMOSOME COUNTS IN FIVE SPECIES OF OXYTROPIS (FABACEAE) IN IRAN

In this study original mitotic chromosome counts are presented for 4 Oxytropis species from 4 sections of the genus Oxytropis in Iran including: O. bicornis (O. sect. Oxytropis) (2n = 2x = 16), O. suavis (O. sect. Ortholoma) (2n = 2x = 16), O. aucheri (O. sect. Eumorpha) (2n = 2x = 16) and O. karjaginii (O. sect. Janthina) (2n = 4x = 32). This report is the first cytogenetic analysis of these taxa. All taxa (with exception of O. karjaginii) are diploid and possess 2n = 2x = 16 chromosome number, consistent with the proposed base number of x = 8. In addition, meiotic chromosome count and behavior are presented for O. masanderanensis (O. sect. Ortholoma) (2n = 2x = 16). Although this taxon displayed regular bivalent pairing and chromosome segregation at meiosis, but some abnormalities were observed.