Cotias-de Oliveria et al. 2000 (Article) Bromeliaceae, chromosomes

Chromosome numbers in Bromeliaceae

Author(s):—A.L.P. : Aquino de Assis Cotias-de Oleivera, M.C. Bellintani, J.C.S. Andrade & M.L. Silva Guedes

Publication:—Genetics and Molecular Biology 23(1): 173-177. (2000) — DOI

Abstract:—Eighty-three chromosome counts are reported for 72 taxa of the Bromeliaceae. Fifty-eight of these counts are the first known chromosome number reports for their respective taxa. A model of chromosomal evolution in the Bromeliaceae (n = 25) is presented. The model is parsimonious and consistent with existing data on meiotic chromosome numbers within the family and in the closely related Velloziaceae (n = 9). Two hypothesized paleodiploids (n = 8 and n = 9) hybridized to form a tetraploid that in turn hybridized with the n = 8 lineage. The resultant n = 25 is the extant base number for the family. Two alternative hypotheses could explain the unique extant base number (n = 17) for Cryptanthus: 1) Cryptanthus represents the paleotetraploid level, i.e., prior to the second round of hybridization, or 2) the lower number represents the result of a more recent series of aneuploid reductions from n = 25. Given the existence of intergeneric hybrids involving Cryptanthus, aneuploid reduction is the more likely interpretation.