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Evolution of genome size inAllium (Alliaceae)

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Abstract

The 4C DNA amounts of 86 species fromAllium subgg.Allium, Rhizirideum, Bromatorrhiza, Melanocrommyum, Caloscordum andAmerallium show a 8.35-fold difference ranging from 35.60 pg (A. ledebourianum, 2n = 16) to 297.13 pg (A. validum 2n = 56). At diploid level the difference is 3.57-fold betweenA. ledebourianum (35.60 pg) andA. ursinum (127.14 pg). This shows that a significant loss and/or gain of DNA has occurred during evolution. On average subgg.Rhizirideum andAllium have less DNA amount than subgg.Melanocrommyum andAmerallium. The distribution of nuclear DNA amounts does not show discontinuous pattern and regular groups. The evolution of genome size has been discussed in relation to polyploidy and genomes, heterochromatin, adaptive changes in morphological characteristics, phenology and ecological factors, and infrageneric classification.

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  1. D. Ohri

    Present address: National Botanical Research Institute, 226 001, Lucknow, India

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  1. Institut für Pflanzengenetik und Kulturpflanzenforschung, Corrensstrasse 3, D-06466, Gatersleben, Germany

    D. Ohri, R. M. Fritsch & P. Hanelt

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Ohri, D., Fritsch, R.M. & Hanelt, P. Evolution of genome size inAllium (Alliaceae). Pl Syst Evol 210, 57–86 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00984728

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