Cytogenetic studies in some species of Medicago L. in Iran

Abstract

A karyological study using the Image Analysis System was conducted of eight taxa of the genusMedicago L. namely M. radiata L., M. intertexta (L.) Mill. M. orbicularis (L.) Bart. , M. laciniata (L.)Mill., M. coronate (L.) bartal, M. rigidula (L.) All., M. polymorpha L.and M. scutellata (L.) Mill. usedas forage plants from different geographic origins of Fars province from Iran. We found the two usualbasic chromosome numbers in the genus, x=7 and x=8. In the group with x=7, two diploid (2n=14), onetetraploid (2n=28) species and in the group with x=8, five diploid (2n=16) species were found. Detailedkaryotype analysis allows us to group the different species and to postulate relationships among them.