Cytogenetical Survey of Aloe vera populations in Iran

Aloe vera belongs to the family Liliaaceae. It is a perennial or seldom annual plant of 70 to 90 cm high. This plant is popular in Southern Africa, Madagascar and Arab regions. Usually local species to grow in the southern parts of IRAN, such as Bushehr, Hormozgan and Balochestan provinces. Some of the ornamental species widely used in Europe and America and decorated leaf gardens, parks and houses are planted. The gel in the leaves of the medicinal properties of the plant is used in preparing medicines. Despite the wide use yet comprehensive study has been done on this plant in Iran. In this research 10 populations of Aloe vera belongs to Aloe genus that collected from different locations of Iran, studied using root apex meristem, number and dimensions of chromosomes in the mitosis division measured, and determined karyotypic formula for any population. The number of genome was 7 and kind of chromosome was metacentric and sub-telocentric. The most and lowest mean of chromosome length belongs to Aloe littoralis population (12.72 micron) and Aloe vera (10.42 micron) population respectively. The populations were compared using Stebbins method based on karyotype. Aloe vera populations lied in 1A class and other populations in 2A class. Karyotypic formula of Aloe vera and Aloe littoralis was determined as 6Sm+8st and 4Sm+10St respectively. Cytological samples showed minor differences in this sample compared to other samples.