Karyotypic studies in species of Gilliesieae Lindl. (Gilliesioideae-Alliaceae) from central Chile

Abstract

The tribe Gilliesieae Lindl. belong to the South American group of Alliaceae, is characterized by high floral diversification,
displaying different degree of bilateral symmetry, varied number of tepals and stamens and floral appendages, with high
levels of endemism mainly in the Mediterranean climate zone of central Chile. Cytologically chromosome numbers only of
three species are known. In the present study, the karyotype of ten species corresponding to the genera Ancrumia, Gethyum,
Gilliesia, Miersia, Solaria and Speea, are documented. First reports are provided for seven taxa: Ancrumia cuspidata,
Gilliesia graminea, G. montana, Miersia minor, M. leporina, M. tenuiseta y Speea humilis. Three chromosomal sets are
observed, Miersia spp. and Speea with 2n=12 (10m+2t), M. chilensis with 2n=20 (2m+18t) and Ancrumia, Gethyum,
Gilliesia and Solaria with 2n=14 (4m+4sm+6t). The studied species are diploid and showed large chromosomes, some of
them larger than 22 ?m, frequently metacentric or telocentric, and with a conserved fundamental number (FN=11). The
results suggest that Robertsonian exchanges could play a major role in the evolution of the tribe and subfamily.