Abstract
Four cytological races of Scilla autumnalis, Liliaceae, were found in a study of 31 populations from Spain and Portugal. Two are diploids with 2n = 14, designated AA and B7B7, which differ by 70 per cent in DNA content, one is an allotetraploid AAB7B7 and one an autotetraploid of the B7 genome. Races AA and AAB7B7 are Iberian endemics, B7B7 is widespread throughout the Mediterranean, while the autotetraploid is the common European race. In Iberia, the races are parapatric and distribution is not related to climatic conditions. The populations are chromosomally heterogeneous. Polymorphisms include B-chromosomes (five types) and supernumerary segments. Large euchromatic segments occur on the homoeologues Al and Bl in both diploids and the allotetraploid, converting these acrocentrics to metacentrics. A wide spectrum of non-polymorphic numerical and structural variants was also found. The chromosomal structure of this species complex is discussed.
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Parker, J., Lozano, R., Taylor, S. et al. Chromosomal structure of populations of Scilla autumnalis in the Iberian Peninsula. Heredity 67, 287–297 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.1991.92
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