Karyotype analysis and new chromosome number reports for nine Vicia species in Iran

This study concerns diploid chromosome numbers and karyotype analysis of nine species belonging to four sections (vicilla, cracca, variegata and anatropostylia) of the subgenus vicilla of the genus vicia (fabaceae). the chromosome numbers of vicia alpestris subsp. hypoleuca, v. aucheri, v. ciceroideae, v. gariensis, v. iranica, v. koeieana, v. rechingeri, v. sojakii and v. venulosa are reported here for the first time. the basic chromosome number showed a range of x = 5, x = 6 and x = 7. the majority of the studied taxa were diploid with 2n = 10, 2n = 12 and 2n = 14. in a group of x = 7, three tetraploids species (2n = 28) were determined. karyologically, the chromosomes observed were mainly from submetacentric and subtelocentric types. based on stebbines karyotype classification the studied vicia species were placed in three classes: 2a, 3a & 4a.