Chromosome diversity and evolution in Allium (Amaryllidaceae, Allioideae)

Despite extensive literature on the diversity of karyotypes in Allium is available, no attempt to analyse these data together, within a robust phylogenetic framework, has been carried out so far. Thus, we examined patterns and trends in chromosome evolution across the genus. Based on literature survey, karyo-morphometric features for 207 species belonging to 12 subgenera of Allium were obtained. Included in the data-set were basic chromosome number (x), somatic chromosome number (2n), total haploid (monoploid) chromosome length (THL) and three different measures defining karyotype structure: CVCI, measuring how heterogeneous are centromeres positions in a karyotype, CVCL and MCA, quantifying interchromosomal and intrachromosomal karyotype asymmetry, respectively. Trends in karyotype evolution were analysed by phylogenetic regressions and independent contrasts. Mean karyotypes highlighted differences and similarities in karyotype structure between the 12 subgenera. Further differences were noted when the two parameters for analysing karyotype asymmetry were assessed. In addition, by examining the effects of increasing karyotype dimensions (a proxy for genome size) on karyotype structure and asymmetry, it was shown that in Allium species, the DNA was added proportionally to their arm lengths. Overall, p = 8 and somehow intermediate karyotype asymmetry levels seem to represent plesiomorphic characterstates in Allium.