مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - Karyosystematic Study on Some Almond and Peach Species Grown in Iran

Abstract :

Almond belongs to the genus Prunus from the family of Rosaceae with about 20 species in the forms of tree, spinous and spinousless shrub. One of the most important economically species is sweet almond. To determine the relationship between three wild and domestic species of almond (Amygdalus communis, A. trichamygdalus woronow, A. lycioides spach) and peach (Prunus persica L), the karyosistematic studies were carried out using karyological methods. The root meristem cells were used in this study. For chromosome morphological studies, ten suitable metaphase plates were chosen in each sample and photographed. Also, the standard karyotype was prepared separately for the species as well as population and different chromosomes parameters including the complete length of the chromosomes, the long and short arms length, the arms relative length (AR), % TF (Total Form Percentage) and the chromosomes relative length were measured. There was a significant difference among all of the identified species. It was determined that all the species were diploid and their chromosome numbers were 2n=16. The mean chromosomes size in Iranian samples of this species was about 2.43± 0.03μ Also there was a significant difference among all of the homologous chromosomes due to the measured cytological characters. Similarity and difference among the species evaluated based on cytological parameters including the chromosomes length, the long arm and short arm length, the arms relative length and the chromosomes index. Statistical analysis showed that A. communis had the most similarity with A. lycioides and the species A. trichamygdalus and P. persica had the most similarity with each other. All studied species were cytologically classified into three groups.