Open AccessTaxonomic and evolutionary implications of intraspecific variability in chromosome numbers of species of Leucaena Benth. (Leguminosae)
Author(s) -
CARDOSO MILENA BARCELOS,
SCHIFINOWITTMANN MARIA TERESA,
BODANESEZANETTINI MARIA HELENA
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
botanical journal of the linnean society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.872
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1095-8339
pISSN - 0024-4074
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8339.2000.tb00550.x
Subject(s) - polyploid , biology , subspecies , intraspecific competition , ploidy , taxon , leucaena , chromosome , chromosome number , botany , population , evolutionary biology , karyotype , zoology , genetics , gene , demography , sociology
Chromosome numbers were determined in 52 individuals of 14 taxa of Leucaena Benth. from 22 populations. For L. cuspidata and L. kmpirana these are the first published chromosome counts. Intraspecific variability was found for L. lempirana, L. macrophjlta and L. shanonii , and one diploid population of the tetraploid species L. pallida was identified. Comparison of our data with those in the literature showed that for L. collinsii and L. macrophylla there is a relationship between chromosome number and subspecies delimitation. The variability detected in chromosome numbers shows the complexity of the diploid and tetraploid species evolution, and suggests multiple origins for some of the polyploid taxa.