Karyotype characterization of ten pivotal populations of Medicago sativa L. in Turkey

Cytogenetically studies were carried out on ten selected populations of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) of Lake Regions in Turkey. Root tips meristems obtained from plants of similar age that originated by vegetative reproduction from a single parent from plants grown under greenhouse conditions, were pretreated with saturated solution of ά-bromonaphthalene and 0.002 M 8-Hydroxiquinolin before staining with aceto-iron-hematoxylin. Karyotype analysis showed that all populations were tetraploid (2n=4x= 32). The chromosomes are small, ranging from 1.69-5.92 microns in length. B chromosome and heteromorphic chromosomes were established. Due to these phenomenons, the existences of heterogeneous in alfalfa populations were demonstrated from these locations. On the basis of karyotypic formula, the populations had 2 types of chromosomes (m, sm), categorizing them in 8 different classes. Assessment of karyotype symmetry was carried out, using various parameters e.g. Stebbins and A1 (Intrachromosomal) and A2 (Interchromosomal) connected to Romero-Zarco categories. The populations were classified by intrachromosomal and interchromosomal differences.