Chilean Journal of Agricultural Research Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, INIA ISSN: 0718-5820 EISSN: 0718-5839 Vol. 70, Num. 4, 2010, pp. 667-669

Chilean Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. 70, No. 4, 2010, pp. 667-669

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

The Karyotype of Alstroemeria diluta Ehr. Bayer subsp. chrysantha (Alstroemeriaceae).

Karyotype of Alstroemeria diluta Ehr. Bayer subsp. chrysantha (Alstroemeriaceae).

Carlos M. Baeza^1*, Eduardo Ruiz¹, and Patricio Novoa²

¹Universidad de Concepción, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Casilla 160-C, Concepción, Chile.
²Jardín Botánico Nacional, Camino el Olivar 305, El Salto, Viña del Mar, Chile.
^*Corresponding author (cbaeza@udec.cl).

Received: 25 May 2010. Accepted: 22 September 2010.

Code Number: cj10075

Abstract

The karyotype of Alstroemeria diluta subsp. chrysantha Ehr. Bayer from Chile was examined. The species has 2n = 2x = 16 chromosomes, with 4m + 4sm + 2st-sat + 4t + 2t-sat. The reported karyotype is very asymmetrical (AsK % = 71.4 and Syi = 40.0%). This karyotype is similar to that published previously for Alstroemeria graminea Phil.

Key words: Alstroemeria, karyotype, ornamental plant, Chile.

RESUMEN

Alstroemeria diluta subsp. chrysantha Ehr. Bayer (Alstroemeriaceae) fue examinada citológicamente. Esta especie presenta un número cromosómico somático de 2n = 2x = 16 cromosomas, con una fórmula haploide constituida por 4m + 4sm + 2st-sat + 4t + 2t-sat cromosomas. El cariotipo es muy asimétrico, con valores de AsK % = 71,4 y Syi = 40,0%. Estos resultados se compararon con los de Alstroemeria graminea Phil., especie que presenta un cariotipo muy similar.

Palabras clave: Alstroemeria, cariotipo, planta ornamental, Chile.

INTRODUCTION

In Chile there exist approximately 44 genera and 180 species of geophytes that have ornamental value, only being surpassed in number by attractive species in the flora of South Africa (Peñailillo, 2000). Among the species in Chile, almost 90% are endemic (Benoit, 1989), and they are especially concentrated in the families Alliaceae, Alstroemeriaceae, Amaryllidaceae, and Tecophilaceae.

Alstroemeria L. (Alstroemeriaceae) is an American monocot genus with about 50 species distributed principally in Chile and Brazil (Bayer, 1987; Muñoz and Moreira, 2003).

In Chile the genus contains 49 taxa, of which 40 are endemic (Muñoz and Moreira, 2003), primarily found in the Mediterranean region of the country. This region harbors about 47% of the total plant species found in Chile (Myers et al., 2000), and many of these taxa have serious conservation difficulties due to small population sizes and recent impacts from human activities.

There exist a large number of Chilean species of Alstroemeria that are cultivated for ornamental use throughout the world, among these being A. aurea Graham, A. pelegrina L., A. ligtu L. and A. magnifica Herb. (Baeza et al., 2008). In this context, A. diluta Ehr. Bayer is an endemic species that has great cultivation potential, especially in view of its beautiful flowers (Figure 1A-C), plus the fact that seeds are available commercially (Chileflora, 2010). This species is found from Carrizal Bajo (28º08’ S lat) in the Atacama Region, to Punta Curaumilla (33º05’ S lat) in the Province of Valparaiso. It is characterized by having a small height (< 15 cm), with outer tepals pink or yellowish and denticulate at the margin, and with internal tepals purple. It grows on old marine terraces with abundant large limestone gravel, but here being somewhat weak and poorly developed. It also grows more successfully on interior low hills that correspond to ancient Pliocene terraces (Paskoff, 1967). With regard to vegetation, this species is an important component of the coastal sclerophyllous forest, growing preferentially in degraded areas, and co-occurring with annual grasses in open prairies that are occasionally impacted by forest fires (Peralta, 1972).

This scientific note documents the karyotype of Alstroemeria diluta subsp. chrysantha Ehr. Bayer, including a comparison with A. graminea Phil., with which it shares many karyotypic similarities.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two populations of Alstroemeria diluta subsp. chrysantha were studied from Chile: (1) Región de Valparaíso, Provincia de Valparaíso, Punta Curaumilla, camping Las Gaviotas, 58 m.a.s.l. (33º05’ S, 71º43’ W), 11 December 2007, C. Baeza 4264 (CONC); (2) Jardín Botánico Nacional, Lote C, 71 m.a.s.l. (33°02’ S, 71°29’ W), 24 December 2007, P. Novoa s.n. (Herbario Jardín Botánico Nacional, Viña del Mar, Chile).

Study of the chromosomes, measurement, and construction of karyotypes, were done following methods described by Baeza et al. (2006). Root tips were obtained from plants cultivated in the greenhouse. For each population, five individual plants were examined (with 10 clear metaphase plates observed from each individual). The index of karyotypic asymmetry (AsK %) as defined by Arano and Saito (1980), the Syi: asymmetry index of Venora et al. (2002), and the total diploid length of the chromosomes (LTC, µm) were used. The chromosomes were classified following Levan et al. (1964).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Alstroemeria diluta subsp. chrysantha has 2n = 2x = 16 chromosomes, with an asymmetrical karyotype and a haploid chromosome complement of 2m + 2sm + 1st-sat + 2t + 1t-sat, i.e., 2 pairs of metacentric chromosomes (pairs 1 and 7), 2 pairs of submetacentrics (pairs 6 and 8), 1 pair of subtelocentric chromosomes with a satellite (pair 5), and 3 pairs of acrocentrics (pairs 2-4, with pair 3 containing a satellite) (Figure 1D, Table 1). The index of karyotypic asymmetry of Arano and Saito (AsK %) was 71.4, the Syi 40.0%, and the LTC 119.6 µm.

Table 1. Chromosomes measurements of Alstroemeria diluta subsp. chrysantha. Average length of chromosomes calculated in percent of the mean diploid genome length.

SD: standard deviation; R: brachial index; m: metacentric; sm: submetacentric; st: subtelocentric; st-sat: subtelocentric with satellite; t: telocentric; t-sat: telocentric with satellite.

Alstroemeria diluta subsp. chrysantha has the most asymmetric karyotype and the lowest value of LTC known so far among all the perennial species of Alstroemeria. It is comparable only to the karyotype of the sole annual species in the genus, A. graminea, which has an even lower value of LTC and an even more asymmetrical karyotype (LTC = 10.8 µm; AsK % = 80.1%; Sy I = 24.8%; Jara-Seguel et al., 2004). Both species share very asymmetrical karyotypes, low values of LTC, and presence of only one pair of large metacentric chromosomes (pair 1).

Considering the distinctive cytological features and the beauty of the flowers of this species, it may well have excellent potential as an ornamental plant for gardens, terrace pots, or as cut flowers for the local, national, or international horticultural trade. In the past decade, this latter activity has become very important for the economy of Chile. In 2008, the total export value of cut flowers surpassed US$3.3 million (FOB), with The Netherlands and the United States being the principal international markets (Reyes and Barrera, 2009).

Cytological characterization of a plant species with ornamental potential constitutes a valuable contribution toward protecting this biological resource, especially considering ongoing intensive searches for new genotypes of ornamental importance. Many European countries utilize Chilean species in programs for genetic improvement, but if the basic cytological information is not available, further development can be hindered. From a more national perspective, lack of biological information may lead to a neglect of this species as a valuable part of Chile’s natural heritage, perhaps resulting in missed opportunities for successful revenue-sharing.

CONCLUSIONS

Alstroemeria diluta subsp. chrysantha is a perennial species of the genus that shows the most asymmetrical karyotype so far investigated. It is similar, however, to that of Alstroemeria graminea, the only annual species of the genus.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We greatly appreciate: financial support from project FONDECYT 1070520; and use of laboratory facilities from the Departamento de Botánica of the Universidad de Concepción. Also to Tod Stuessy for translating the manuscript into English.

LITERATURE CITED

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