KARYOLOGICAL STUDY OF SOME ONOPORDUM L. (ASTERACEAE) SPECIES IN IRAN

The somatic chromosome numbers and karyotype of five species of Onopordum L. (Asteraceae) from Iran were investigated. Our results confirm that all of the species are diploid (2n=34). First chromosome reports are presented for O. leptolepis DC., O. heteracanthum C. A. Mey. and O. carduchorum Bornm & Beauverd. Besides, the chromosome numbers of O. armenum Grossh., O. carduchorum and O. acanthium L. are reported from Iran for the first time, confirm the previous reports. Karyotype formulae for O. armenum, O. carduchorum and O. leptolepis were similar (1Sm+16m), for O. heteracanthum and O. acanthium were respectively 17m and 1M+16m+2B.Satellites were commonly found on submetacentric pairs, being also variable in morphology and location.