Karyotypic analysis on Quercus castaneifolia of north of Iran

Six populations of Quercus castaneifolia collected from north of Iran, were examined for karyotype analysis. Microscopic samples were prepared and studied, using their root meristem after pretreatment, fixation, hydrolysis and staining stages. Results showed that the basic chromosome number of all populations was x = 12 and all of them were diploid. The population's differences were investigated using variation analysis and their means were compared based on 5 chromosomal parameters: total length of the chromosomes (TL), long arm (L), short arm (S), arm ratio (AR) and centerometric index (CI). The results showed significant variation among the populations in TL, L and S. Karyotipic formula for all of the populations was 12m. The karyotypes were classified in class B of Stebbins classification. The asymmetric parameters defined moderate asymmetry in all of the studied karyotypes. Principal components analysis based on karyotypic parameters showed that TL and L play the most important role in the first component. The first component contained more than 64% of total karyotypic variation. Cluster analysis classified the populations into two classes. The Gilan province populations was assigned to one cluster and Lo’ve, Lajim and Kelardasht populations allocated to another one.