Abstract
In literature seven different methods of evaluating karyotype asymmetry – the TF%, the As K%, Stebbins' classification, the Rec and the Syi, the A1 and the A2, the DI, and the A – are used for the elucidation of phylogenetic relationships and taxonomic treatments within a particular group or taxon. The investigation of these seven methods reveals that the intervals used by Stebbins to separate the different types of karyotype asymmetry are very broad and only one quantitative parameter, the A2 index, correctly describes the variation in chromosome length in a complement. A new asymmetry index (AI) is proposed to measure karyotype asymmetry and a new parameter, the CVCI, is offered, that precisely assesses the relative variation in centromere position in a complement. The AI index, the CVCI and the CVCL (=A2 × 100) have the potential to display even minor karyotypic variations. Thus, these three indices together increase the precision of results in comparison with other existing methods. All this has important consequences as regards the interpretation of the results of karyological studies.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
H. Arano (1963) ArticleTitleCytological studies in subfamily Carduoideae (Compositae) of Japan. IX. The karyotype analysis and phylogenic considerations on Pertya and Ainsliaea Bot. Mag. Tokyo 76 32–39
H. Arano H. Saito (1980) ArticleTitleCytological studies in family Umbelliferae 5. Karyotypes of seven species in subtribe Seselinae Kromosomo 2–17 471–480
N. P. Avdulov (1931) ArticleTitleKario-sistematicheskoye issledovaniye semeystva zlakov Bull. Appl. Bot. Gen. Pl. Breed. (Suppl) 44 1–428
N. Barghi C. Mugnier S. Siljak-Yakovlev (1989) ArticleTitleKaryological studies in some Hypochoeris spp. (Compositae) from Sicily Pl. Syst. Evol 168 49–57 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00936106
S. Bernardos F. Amich F. Gallego (2003) ArticleTitleKaryological and taxonomical notes on Ophrys (Orchidoideae, Orchidaceae) from the Iberian Peninsula Bot. J. Linn. Soc 142 395–406 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1095-8339.2003.00198.x
J. Y. Costa E. R. Forni-Martins (2003) ArticleTitleKaryology of some Brazilian species of Alismataceae Bot. J. Linn. Soc 143 159–164 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1095-8339.2003.00193.x
J. Coulaud N. Barghi C. Lefèbvre S. Siljak-Yakovlev (1999) ArticleTitleCytogenetic variation in populations of Armeria maritima (Mill.) Willd. in relation to geographical distribution and soil stress tolerances Canad. J. Bot 77 673–685
S. Cozzolino S. D'Emerico A. Widmer (2004) ArticleTitleEvidence for reproductive isolate selection in Mediterranean orchids: karyotype differences compensate for the lack of pollinator specificity Proc. Roy. Soc. Lond. B (Suppl.) 271 259–262
J. Greilhuber F. Speta (1976) ArticleTitleC-banded karyotypes in the Scilla hohenackeri Group, S. persica and Puschkinia (Liliaceae) Pl. Syst. Evol 126 149–188 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00981669
Z. C. He J. Q. Li H. C. Wang (2004) ArticleTitleKaryomorphology of Davidia involucrata and Camptotheca acuminata, with special reference to their systematic positions Bot. J. Linn. Soc 144 193–198 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1095-8339.2003.00241.x
T. N. Ho S. L. Chen S. W. Liu (2002) ArticleTitleMetagentiana, a new genus of Gentianaceae Bot. Bull. Acad. Sin 43 83–91
Y. Huziwara (1962) ArticleTitleKaryotype analysis in some genera of Compositae. VIII. Further studies on the chromosome of Aster Amer. J. Bot 49 116–119
U. C. Lavania S. Srivastava (1992) ArticleTitleA simple parameter of dispersion index that serves as a adjunct to karyotype asymmetry J. Biosci 17 179–182
U. C. Lavania S. Srivastava (1999) ArticleTitleQuantitative delineation of karyotype variation in Papaver as a measure of phylogenetic differentiation and origin Curr. Sci 77 429–435
A. Levan K. Fredga A. A. Sandberg (1964) ArticleTitleNomenclature for centromeric position on chromosomes Hereditas 52 201–220
G. A. Levitsky (1931) ArticleTitleThe karyotype in systematics Bull. Appl. Bot. Gen. Pl. Breed 27 220–240
J. Q. Liu (2004) ArticleTitleUniformity of karyotypes in Ligularia (Asteraceae: Senecioneae), a highly diversified genus of the eastern Qinghai – Tibet Plateau highlands and adjacent areas Bot. J. Linn. Soc 144 329–342 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1095-8339.2003.00225.x
P. Mercado-Ruaro A. Delgado-Salinas (1998) ArticleTitleKaryotypic studies on species of Phaseolus (Fabaceae: Phaseolinae) Amer. J. Bot 85 1–9
C. Mugnier S. Siljak-Yakovlev (1987) ArticleTitleKaryological study in some Yugoslavian populations of Hypochoeris (Compositae) Caryologia 40 319–325
Zarco C. Romero (1986) ArticleTitleA new method for estimating karyotype asymmetry Taxon 35 526–530
C. F. Ruas M. L. R. Aguiar-Perecin (1997) ArticleTitleChromosome evolution in the genus Mikania Amer. J. Bot 84 1156–1163 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXlvFejurg%3D
P. M. Ruas C. F. Ruas E. M. D. Maffei M. A. Marin-Morales (2000) ArticleTitleChromosome studies in the genus Mikania (Asteraceae) Genet. Molec. Biol 23 979–984
J. G. Seijo A. Fernández (2003) ArticleTitleKaryotype analysis and chromosome evolution in South American species of Lathyrus (Leguminosae) Amer. J. Bot 90 980–987
R. R. Sokal F. J. Rohlf (1981) Biometry. W. H. Freeman and Company New York USA
StatSoft (1995) STATISTICA for Windows. StatSoft, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA.
G. L. Stebbins (1971) Chromosomal evolution in higher plants Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd London, UK
G. Venora S. Blangiforti Castiglione M. Ruffini D. Pignone F. Losavio R. Cremonini (2002) ArticleTitleChromatin organisation and computer aided karyotyping of Triticum durum Desf. cv Timilia Caryologia 55 91–98
K. Watanabe T. Yahara T. Denda K. Kosuge (1999) ArticleTitleChromosomal evolution in the genus Brachyscome (Asteraceae, Astereae): Statistical tests regarding correlation between changes in karyotype and habit using phylogenetic information J. Plant Res 112 145–161 Occurrence Handle10.1007/PL00013869
H. Weiss-Schneeweiss T. F. Stuessy S. Siljak-Yakovlev C. M. Baeza J. Parker (2003) ArticleTitleKaryotype evolution in South American species of Hypochaeris (Asteraceae, Lactuaceae) Pl. Syst. Evol 241 171–184 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s00606-003-0026-x
J. Yue Z. Gu I. A. Al-Shehbaz H. Sun (2004) ArticleTitleCytological studies on the Sino-Himalayan endemic Solms-laubachia (Brassicaceae) and two related genera Bot. J. Linn. Soc 145 77–86 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1095-8339.2003.00268.x
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Paszko, B. A critical review and a new proposal of karyotype asymmetry indices. Plant Syst. Evol. 258, 39–48 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-005-0389-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-005-0389-2