A re-examination of the West European species of Boreonectes Angus, 2010, with particular reference to B. multilineatus (Falkenström, 1922) (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae)

The West European species of Boreonectes Angus, 2010 are reviewed. B. multilineatus (Falkenström, 1922) is shown to be widely distributed in the Pyrenees, where it is the only species known to occur. The chromosomes of all five west European species are found to have, in addition their different numbers of chromosomes, differences in the number and locations of secondary constrictions, and in some cases, the number of chromosomes with clear centromeric C-bands. The level of differences between the chromosomes of the species is in stark contrast with the very slight genetic (DNA) differences between them and this suggests that chromosome differentiation may have been a driver of speciation. Two of the species, B. griseostriatus (De Geer, 1774) and B. multilineatus, have distributions extending northwards as far as Arctic Scandinavia. It is pointed out that, while these northern areas now constitute the major portions of their ranges, they must be of fairly recent origins as most of the area would have been covered by ice sheets and therefore not habitable during the glacial maximum of the Last Glaciation. This contrasts with the situation in the area of the Central European mountains where fossil faunas, including Boreonectes, are known. B. griseostriatus, identifiable to species by its parameres, was present in the Woolly Rhinoceros site at Starunia in the Western Ukraine, and this fauna is discussed as well as an English fauna of similar age.

Karyomorphological study of Houttuynia cordata Thunb.: an ethnobotanical species of Manipuri community of Tripura, India

Houttuynia cordata Thunb. (Saururaceae), has the chromosome number of 2n = 112 with karyotype formula A2+B98+C12. The size of the chromosomal complement was found to range from 1.52 µm to 3.00 µm with one pair of chromosomes bearing secondary constrictions. The detailed karyotype analysis revealed that chromosomes fall under the Stebbins category of 1A, which indicating slightly asymmetric nature of chromosome. The chromosome tally and conformity of the karyotype in the present study corroborated as a new cytotype being adapted in this area, the north-eastern region of India.

Karyotype structure and NOR activity in Brazilian Smilax Linnaeus, 1753 species (Smilacaceae)

The genus Smilax Linnaeus, 1753 (Smilacaceae) is a large genus of dioecious plants distributed in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions. Some Smilax species have medicinal importance and their identification is important for the control of raw material used in the manufacture of phytotherapeutical products. The karyotypes of seven Brazilian Smilax species were investigated. Mitotic metaphases of roots from young plants were analysed in Feulgen-stained preparations. The karyotypes were asymmetric and modal with 2n = 2x = 32 chromosomes gradually decreasing in size. In S. goyazana A De Candolle & C De Candolle, 1878, a polyploid species, 2n = 4x = 64. In all the species, the large and medium-sized chromosomes were subtelocentric and submetacentric and the small chromosomes were submetacentric or metacentric. Their karyotypes were quite similar, with differences in the arm ratio of some chromosomes. S. fluminensis Steudel, 1841 differed from the other species by having a large metacentric chromosome 1. These findings suggest that evolution occurred without drastic changes in the chromosomal structure in the species analyzed. Terminal secondary constrictions were visualized on the short arm of some chromosomes, but they were detected only in one homologue of each pair. Due to the terminal location and the degree of chromosome condensation, secondary constrictions were not visualized in some species. The nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) were mapped by silver-staining and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) in S. rufescens Grisebach, 1842 and S. fluminensis. Silver-staining and FISH signals were colocalized on the short arms of six chromosomes in S. rufescens and four chromosomes in S. fluminensis. In FISH preparations, one of the largest chromosomes had the secondary constrictions highly decondensed in some cells. This finding and the heteromorphism observed in Feulgen-stained chromosomes suggest that differential rRNA gene expression between homologous rDNA loci can occur in some cells, resulting in different degrees of ribosomal chromatin decondensation. The presence of a heteromorphic chromosome pair in S. rufescens, S. polyantha Grisebach, 1842 and S. goyazana suggests a chromosomal sex determination in these dioecious species.

Localización de satélites y cromosomas NOR para la interpretación del cariotipo de Sesbania virgata (Papilionoideae, Sesbanieae) de dos poblaciones americanas

<p><strong>Background</strong>: Cytogenetic studies in the genus <em>Sesbania</em> show lack of agreement among the researchers about the precise number and position of secondary constrictions and satellites as well as their relation to the organization of the nucleolus. The lack of this information makes it difficult to carry out reliable comparative cytogenetic studies and chromosome evolution in this genus.</p><p><strong>Questions</strong>: Where are the secondary constrictions and satellites located in the chromosomes of <em>Sesbania</em> <em>virgat</em>a? Do these regions actively participate in the nucleolar organization?</p><p><strong>Study species</strong>: <em>Sesbania virgate</em> (Cav.) Pers.</p><p><strong>Study site</strong>: Municipality of Tlacotalpan, Mexico and Province of Salta, Argentina.</p><p><strong>Methods</strong>: Surface spreading and air-drying technique was applied to obtain chromosomes in prometaphase and typical metaphase from radicular meristems.</p><p><strong>Results</strong>: Each population exhibited a different karyotype and only two secondary constrictions associated with microsatellites in the short arms of the smallest chromosome pair and not in long arms as was suggested by other authors. The inclusion of secondary constrictions and satellites in the nucleolus of cells in prometaphase allowed to corroborate their active participation in the formation of this one. This information was used to reevaluate the position of the nucleolar organizer regions "NOR´s".</p><strong>Conclusions</strong>: Our results agree with the predominant point of view on the location of the "NOR´s" in the short arms of plant species, particularly in legumes. In addition, given that the populations under study are geographically isolated, we suggest that an active process of speciation manifested in the two found cytotypes whose differences are attributed to changes in the proportion of arms of the satellite chromosomes is favored.

Karyotype analysis of Solanum torvum Sw. - an ethnobotanical Solanaceous species of Tripura, North East India

Solanum torvum Sw. is a wild Solanaceous plant species, commonly used by the indigenous people of Tripura. Cytological study of the species was carried out to determine the somatic chromosome number and to construct the karyotype formula. The detailed karyomorphological analysis revealed 2n=24 somatic chromosomes having haploid number n=12. The size of chromosomal complement was found to range from 2.14±0.21 to 4.02±0.26 µm with a pair of chromosomes bearing secondary constrictions. Strictly median primary constriction was recorded in two pairs of chromosomes. In general, karyotype formula was found to be A2B4C18. The detailed karyotype analysis revealed that chromosomes are generally small in size and fall under the Stebbins category of “2A” indicating symmetrical nature of the karyotype. The present study could be utilised in understanding the cytogenetic nature of the species and for future crop improvement programme.

Development of caryological and molecular-genetic investigations of wetland and dryland populations of conifers

Aim. On the basis of studies which carried out by various authors, regularities of karyotypic and genetic divergence of populations of conifers growing in wetlands and dry lands are analyzed. Methods. The karyological and molecular-genetic methods of analysis are used. Results. Data are obtained on possible ways of evolution of karyotypes, consisting in changes in the number of chromosomes, the size and morphology of chromosomes, the number of secondary constrictions in chromosomes, the spectrum of chromosome rearrangements, and the frequency of their occurrence, distinguishing wetland populations of conifers species from dry land ones. With the help of isozyme markers and markers of nuclear and cytoplasmic genomes differences in the genetic structure of conifers populations from wetlands and dry lands are revealed. Conclusions. The genotypic structure of conifers species in wetlands and dry lands, caused by different vector of natural selection in contrasting ecological conditions of growth, differs significantly, and their karyotypic and genetic differentiation corresponds to the level of populations and groups of populations. Keywords: populations of conifers, wetlands, dry lands, karyological and molecular-genetic markers.

Differential hypomethylation of the repetitive Tol2/Alu-rich sequences in the genome of Bodianus species (Labriformes, Labridae)

Representatives of the order Labriformes show karyotypes of extreme conservatism together with others with high chromosomal diversification. However, the cytological characterization of epigenetic modifications remains unknown for the majority of the species. In the family Labridae, the most abundant fishes on tropical reefs, the genomes of the genus Bodianus Bloch, 1790 have been characterized by the occurrence of a peculiar chromosomal region, here denominated BOD. This region is exceptionally decondensed, heterochromatic, argentophilic, GC-neutral and, in contrast to classical secondary constrictions, shows no signals of hybridization with 18S rDNA probes. In order to characterize the BOD region, the methylation pattern, the distribution of Alu and Tol2 retrotransposons and of 18S and 5S rDNA sites, respectively, were analyzed by Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) on metaphase chromosomes of two Bodianus species, B.insularis Gomon &amp; Lubbock, 1980 and B.pulchellus (Poey, 1860). Immunolocalization of the 5-methylcytosine revealed hypermethylated chromosomal regions, dispersed along the entire length of the chromosomes of both species, while the BOD regions exhibited a hypomethylated pattern. Hypomethylation of the BOD region is associated with the precise co-location of Tol2 and Alu elements, suggesting their active participation in the regulatory epigenetic process. This evidence underscores a probable differential methylation action during the cell cycle, as well as the role of Tol2/Alu elements in functional processes of fish genomes.

Evidence of the occurrence of structural chromosome changes at the initial diploid diversification of the autopolyploid Turnera sidoides L. (Passifloraceae) complex

Turnera sidoides is an autopolyploid complex of obligate outcrossing perennial herbs. It includes five subspecies and five morphotypes in which diploid to octoploid cytotypes were found. Based on phenetic analyses of the complex and karyotype data of polyploid cytotypes, it has been hypothesized that morphological and chromosome differentiation of T. sidoides occurred at the diploid level. To test this hypothesis, we present the first detailed chromosome analysis of diploid populations of three subspecies and four morphotypes. CMA+/DAPI− bands were restricted to secondary constrictions (except in the andino morphotype) and varied in number and position among taxa. By contrast, DAPI staining was uniform in all the materials investigated. The number and position of 45S rDNA loci were coincident with the CMA+/DAPI− bands associated with secondary constrictions. Only one pair of 5S rDNA loci was detected in all the taxa (except in subsp. holosericea), but its position was variable. The identified chromosome markers varied among the three subspecies analyzed, but they were more conserved among the morphotypes of subsp. pinnatifida. Cluster analysis of these chromosome markers supports the current taxonomic arrangement of diploids and demonstrates that structural chromosome changes would have led or accompanied the initial differentiation of T. sidoides at the diploid level.

Cytogenetic Insights into the Evolution of Chromosomes and Sex Determination Reveal Striking Homology of Turtle Sex Chromosomes to Amphibian Autosomes

Turtle karyotypes are highly conserved compared to other vertebrates; yet, variation in diploid number (2n = 26-68) reflects profound genomic reorganization, which correlates with evolutionary turnovers in sex determination. We evaluate the published literature and newly collected comparative cytogenetic data (G- and C-banding, 18S-NOR, and telomere-FISH mapping) from 13 species spanning 2n = 28-68 to revisit turtle genome evolution and sex determination. Interstitial telomeric sites were detected in multiple lineages that underwent diploid number and sex determination turnovers, suggesting chromosomal rearrangements. C-banding revealed potential interspecific variation in centromere composition and interstitial heterochromatin at secondary constrictions. 18S-NORs were detected in secondary constrictions in a single chromosomal pair per species, refuting previous reports of multiple NORs in turtles. 18S-NORs are linked to ZW chromosomes in Apalone and Pelodiscus and to X (not Y) in Staurotypus. Notably, comparative genomics across amniotes revealed that the sex chromosomes of several turtles, as well as mammals and some lizards, are homologous to components of Xenopus tropicalis XTR1 (carrying Dmrt1). Other turtle sex chromosomes are homologous to XTR4 (carrying Wt1). Interestingly, all known turtle sex chromosomes, except in Trionychidae, evolved via inversions around Dmrt1 or Wt1. Thus, XTR1 appears to represent an amniote proto-sex chromosome (perhaps linked ancestrally to XTR4) that gave rise to turtle and other amniote sex chromosomes.