NEW CHROMOSOME COUNTS IN FIVE SPECIES OF OXYTROPIS (FABACEAE) IN IRAN

In this study original mitotic chromosome counts are presented for 4 oxytropis species from 4 sections of the genus oxytropis in iran including: o. bicornis (o. sect. oxytropis) (2n = 2x = 16), o. suavis (o. sect. ortholoma) (2n = 2x = 16), o. aucheri (o. sect. eumorpha) (2n = 2x = 16) and o. karjaginii (o. sect. janthina) (2n = 4x = 32). this report is the first cytogenetic analysis of these taxa. all taxa (with exception of o. karjaginii) are diploid and possess 2n = 2x = 16 chromosome number, consistent with the proposed base number of x = 8. in addition, meiotic chromosome count and behavior are presented for o. masanderanensis (o. sect. ortholoma) (2n = 2x = 16). although this taxon displayed regular bivalent pairing and chromosome segregation at meiosis, but some abnormalities were observed.