Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The difference between the heterogeneity of the centromeric index and intrachromosomal asymmetry

  • Short Communication
  • Published:
Plant Systematics and Evolution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Intrachromosomal asymmetry, one of the two aspects of karyotype asymmetry, increases because of shifts of the centromere position from the median/submedian to terminal or subterminal. Conventional measures of asymmetry use comparisons with the most symmetrical karyotype and thus are an absolute measure of variation in the centromeric index. Conversely, the CVCI index, the coefficient of variation for the centromeric index, only evaluates the relative variation in the centromeric index. We performed a detailed analysis of the capability of the CVCI index and conventional measures of karyotype asymmetry to accurately characterize differences in intrachromosomal asymmetry. Our results show that the CVCI index is unable to accurately evaluate intrachromosomal asymmetry. In fact, the CVCI index evaluates a different measure than other conventional measures of karyotype asymmetry. Therefore, to avoid confusion, we propose that the variation evaluated by the CVCI index should be named heterogeneity of the centromeric index.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

References

  • Arano H (1963) Cytological studies in subfamily Carduoideae (Compositae) of Japan. IX. The karyotype analysis and phylogenic consideration of Pertya and Ainsliaea. Bot Mag Tokyo 76:32–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Chiarini FE, Barboza GE (2008) Karyological studies in Jaborosa (Solanaceae). Bot J Linn Soc 156:467–478

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Felix WJP, Almeida A, de Melo NF, Felix LP (2007) Citogenética de duas espécies de Zephyranthes herb (Amaryllidaceae–Hipeastreae) cultivadas. Rev Bras Bioc 5:294–296

    Google Scholar 

  • García-Barriuso M, Bernardos S, Amich F (2010) Chromosomal evolution in Mediterranean species of Ophrys sect. Pseudophrys (Orchidaceae): an analysis of karyotypes and polyploidy. Taxon 59:525–537

    Google Scholar 

  • Greihuber J, Speta F (1976) C-banded karyotypes in the Scilla hohenackeri group, S. persica and Puschkinia (Liliaceae). Pl Syst Evol 126:149–188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huziwara Y (1962) Karyotype analysis in some genera of Compositae. VIII. Further studies on the chromosome of Aster. Amer J Bot 49:116–119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lavania UC, Srivastava S (1992) A simple parameter of dispersion index that serves as an adjunct to karyotype asymmetry. J Biosci 17:179–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levan A, Fredga K, Sandberg AA (1964) Nomenclature for centromeric position of chromosomes. Hereditas 52:201–220

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lewitsky GA (1931) The ‘karyotype’ in systematics, on the base of karyology of the subfamily Helleboreae. Bull Appl Bot Gen Pl Breed 27:187–240

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin E, Dinc M, Duran A (2009) Karyomorphological study of eight Centaurea L. taxa (Asteraceae) from Turkey. Turk J Bot 33:97–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Paszko B (2006) A critical review and a new proposal of karyotype asymmetry indices. Pl Syst Evol 258:39–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peruzzi L, Di Benedetto C, Aquaro G, Caparelli KF (2008a) The genus Sternbergia Waldst. & Kit. (Amaryllidaceae) in Italy. Contribution to the cytotaxonomical and morpho-anatomical knowledge. Caryologia 61:107–113

    Google Scholar 

  • Peruzzi L, Tison JM, Peterson A, Peterson J (2008b) On the phylogenetic position and taxonomic value of Gagea trinervia (Viv.) Greuter and Gagea sect. Anthericoides A. Terracc. (Liliaceae). Taxon 57:1201–1214

    Google Scholar 

  • Peruzzi L, Leitch IJ, Caparelli KF (2009) Chromosome diversity and evolution in Liliaceae. Ann Bot 103:459–475

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Romero Zarco C (1986) A new method for estimating karyotype asymmetry. Taxon 35:526–530

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stebbins GL (1971) Chromosomal evolution in higher plants. Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Watanabe K, Yahara T, Denda T, Kosuge K (1999) Chromosomal evolution in the genus Brachyscome (Asteraceae, Astereae): statistical tests regarding correlation between changes in karyotype and habit using phylogenetic information. J Plant Res 112:145–161

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We express our sincere thanks to Dr. Jodi Brandt for her invaluable comments on a previous version of the manuscript, and to Dr. Julian Ash and Mr. Bob Forrester for their helpful discussion. This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 30900078) and Guangdong Natural Science Foundation (grant no. 9151009001000046).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Conservation and Sustainable Utilization, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, People’s Republic of China

    Lei Zuo & Qiong Yuan

  2. Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, People’s Republic of China

    Lei Zuo

Authors
  1. Lei Zuo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Qiong Yuan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Qiong Yuan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zuo, L., Yuan, Q. The difference between the heterogeneity of the centromeric index and intrachromosomal asymmetry. Plant Syst Evol 297, 141 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-011-0528-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-011-0528-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation