Louzada et al. 2010 (Article) Orthophytum, chromosomes

Chromosome number of Orthophytum species (Bromeliaceae)

Author(s):—R.B. Louzada, C. Palma-Silva, A.A Macêdo Corrêa, E. Kaltchuk-Santos & M. das Graças Lapa Wanderley

Publication:—Kew Bulletin 65: 1 – 6. (2010)

Abstract:—Summary. The genus Orthophytum Beer comprises 53 species, all narrow endemics to south-eastern and northeastern Brazil. In this study we present meiotic and mitotic chromosome numbers of 12 species of this important genus in Bromeliaceae. For six of these taxa we are reporting the first cytogenetic study. Orthophytum albopictum, O. amoenum and O. burle-marxii presented 2n = 100 chromosomes and O. hatschbachii, O. mucugense, O. vagans, O. supthutii, O. zanonii and O. ophiuroides showed 2n = 50 chromosomes. These results are consistent with the proposed basic number of x = 25 for Bromeliaceae family. In the genus Orthophytum, polyploidy seems to play an important role in chromosome evolution associated with habitat differentiation among diploid and polyploid species.

Keywords:—Bromeliad, Bromelioideae , cytogenetics, meiotic behaviour, mitotic chromosome, polyploidy