Ploidy level determination of Hedera (Araliaceae) with emphasis on discussable species (Hedera hibernica)

• Main Author: fahimeh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Firenze University Press 2021-06-01
• Series: Caryologia
• Online Access: https://riviste.fupress.net/index.php/caryologia/article/view/881

Genome size is a helpful tool to circumscribe taxa at diverse taxonomic degrees (mostly species) and resolve intricate low-level taxonomies. The correct genome size in Hedera (Araliaceae) has long been discussed and the ploidy level of some taxa is still unclear. 12 accessions of Hedera measured with flow cytometry (FCM). Flow cytometry is a relatively rapid, inexpensive and credible, tool. Fresh leaves of the Hedera samples and internal reference standard parsley (Petroselinum crispum) stained with Propidium Iodide (PI). Flow cytometry measurements showed that the accessions 2CV (3.09 - 6.40 pg), the lowest amount of nuclear DNA was 3.09 pg for Hedera crebrescens (So), while its highest amount of nuclear DNA for H. hibernica “Hamilton” was 6.40 pg, which is a statistically significant difference. According to this study, new taxon (H. crebrescens) would be diploid, previously this taxon was considered H. hibernica (tetraploied).