Does Lilium bosniacum merit species rank? A classical and molecular-cytogenetic analysis

Abstract.

Four populations of the Balkan endemic taxon Lilium bosniacum from Bosnia and Herzegovina were investigated. Conventional karyological study did not reveal any important differences. Molecular-cytogenetic studies pointed out certain interpopulation and intrapopulation variability, and important differences in organization of ribosomal genes in regard to its closest relative L. carniolicum. The results of fluorochrome banding and FISH experiment for L. bosniacum were reported here for the first time. Differences occurred in the number and position of 18S-5.8S-26S ribosomal gene loci for some individuals from population Kladanj. Heterochromatic bands revealed with DAPI after FISH experiment were constant. All investigated populations possess the same number of active NORs except some individuals from Kladanj population. Genome size and GC-bases percentage, estimated by flow cytometry, did not show any significant difference among the populations. However, the present results reveal clear interspecific differentiation between two endemics, L. carniolicum and L. bosniacum.