In this study, we examined the chromosome number and some morphological features of strains of Stevia rebaudiana. The chromosomes were analyzed during mitosis and diakinesis, and the tetrad normality and pollen viability were also assessed. In addition, stomata and pollen were measured and some plant features were studied morphometrically. All of the strains had 2n = 22, except for two, which had 2n = 33 and 2n = 44. Pairing at diakinesis was n = 11II for all of the diploid strains, whereas the triploid and tetraploid strains had n = 11III and n = 11IV, respectively. Triploid and tetraploid plants had a lower tetrad normality rate than the diploids. All of the strains had inviable pollen. Thus, the higher the ploidy number, the greater the size of the pollen and the stomata, and the lower their number per unit area. The triploid strain produced the shortest plants and the lowest number of inflorescences, whereas the tetraploid strain had the largest leaves. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among the strains, with a positive correlation between the level of ploidy and all of the morphological features examined

Foi realizado o levantamento florístico da floresta estacional semidecídua localizada no Sítio São Francisco, bem como a caracterização das síndromes de polinização e de dispersão das espécies. Foram encontrados um total de 46 famílias, 116 gêneros e 148 espécies (50 árvores, 35 lianas, 26 arbustos e 37 ervas). As famílias com maior riqueza de espécies arbóreas foram Euphorbiaceae (8), Fabaceae (7), Meliaceae (6) e Rutaceae (5). Entre as lianas, as famílias mais ricas foram Bignoniaceae (13), Sapindaceae (5) e Malpighiaceae (3); entre as herbáceas, Poaceae (8) e Asteraceae (5); e entre as arbustivas, Piperaceae (7) e Rubiaceae (5). As síndromes de polinização e de dispersão mais freqüentes foram melitofilia (73%) e zoocoria (63%), ambas predominantes no sub-bosque, sendo que algumas espécies apresentaram mais de uma síndrome de polinização. A análise de similaridade com outros sete fragmentos do município mostrou a mata do Sítio São Francisco em posição intermediária entre as formações higrófilas e as estacionais semidecíduas, e a ocorrência de algumas espécies exclusivas de árvores e de lianas.

The family Malpighiaceae presents species with different habits, fruit types and cytological characters. Climbers are considered the most derived habit, followed, respectively, by the shrubby and arboreal ones. The present study examines the relationship between basic chromosome numbers and the derivation of climbing habit and fruit types in Malpighiaceae. A comparison of all the chromosome number reports for Malpighiaceae showed a predominance of chromosome numbers based on x=5 or 10 in the genera of sub-family Malpighioideae, mainly represented by climbers with winged fruits, whereas non-climbing species with non-winged fruits, which predominate in sub-family Byrsonimoideae, had counts based on x=6, which is considered the less derived basic number for the family. Based on such data, confirmed by statistic assays, and on the monophyletic origin of this family, we admit the hypothesis that morphological derivation of habit and fruit is correlated with chromosome basic number variation in the family Malpighiaceae.

A great interest exists in the production of hybrid plants of the genus Passiflora given the beauty and exotic features of its flowers which have ornamental value. Hybrid paternity confirmation is therefore important for assuring germplasm origin, and is typically carried out by molecular marker segregation. The aim of this study was to karyotypically characterize the chromosome heritance patterns of the progeny resultant from a cross of P. gardneri and P. gibertii using classical cytogenetics, chromosome banding, and molecular cytogenetics. All analyzed genotypes showed the same diploid chromosome number as the genitor species: 2n = 18. Classical and CMA3 and DAPI staining allowed for chromosome counting and satellite identification (secondary constrictions). Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) were used to characterize subgenomes by either identifying rDNA-specific genome patterns or parental genomes, respectively. The heritance of chromosomal markers presenting rDNA sites from each parent for genome identification confirmed that all obtained plants were hybrids. These results will improve breeding programs involving the species of this genus. Apart from confirming hybridization, GISH allowed the visualization of recombination between the homeologous chromosome and the introgression of sequences of interest.

Karyotype analyses in members of the four Cactaceae subfamilies were performed. Numbers and karyotype formula obtained were: Pereskioideae = Pereskiaaculeata(2n = 22; 10 m + 1 sm), Maihuenioideae = Maihuenia patagonica (2n = 22, 9 m + 2 sm; 2n = 44, 18 m + 4 sm), Opuntioideae = Cumulopuntia recurvata(2n = 44; 20 m + 2 sm), Cactoideae = Acanthocalycium spiniflorum (2n = 22; 10 m + 1 sm),Echinopsis tubiflora (2n = 22; 10 m + 1 sm), Trichocereus candicans (2n = 22, 22 m). Chromosomes were small, the average chromosome length was 2.3 μm. Diploid species and the tetraploid C. recurvata had one terminal satellite, whereas the remaining tetraploid species showed four satellited chromosomes. Karyotypes were symmetrical. No CMA–/DAPI+ bands were detected, but CMA+/DAPI– bands associated with NOR were always found. Pericentromeric heterochromatin was found in C. recurvata, A. spiniflorum, and the tetraploid cytotype of M. patagonica. The locations of the 18S-26S rDNA sites in all species coincided with CMA+/DAPI– bands; the same occurred with the sizes and numbers of signals for each species. This technique was applied for the first time in metaphase chromosomes in cacti. NOR-bearing pair no.1 may be homeologous in all species examined. In Cactaceae, the 18S-26S loci seem to be highly conserved.