Multivariate Analysis of Karyotype Parameters in Clones of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) Accessions from Turkey

Thirteen karyotypic parameters in clones from 10 accessions of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) from geographical sources in lake regions of Turkey were studied by using multivariate analysis. Root tips meristems stained with aceto-iron-hematoxylin. All clones of accessions were tetraploid (2n=4x=32) and the chromosomes were very small, ranging from 1.69 to 5.92 µm. The existences of heterogeneity in clones of alfalfa accessions of lake regions, Turkey were demonstrated due to B chromosomes and heteromorphic phenomena, and significant differences were observed among populations for most of the evaluated traits. On the basis of karyotypic formula, the clones had two types of chromosomes (m and sm), categorizing them in eight different classes. Assessment of karyotype symmetry and asymmetry were carried out, using various indices e.g. DRL, DI, TF%, CV%, Stebbins and Romero-Zarco categories. Correlation coefficient showed that the long arm had the highest correlation with total length of chromosomes, and the short arm had the lowest correlation with arm ratio. In principal components analysis, about 82.37% of the variance and variability among the clones of accessions were explained by variations in chromosomal length, the location of the centromere in the karyotype and karyotype asymmetry index. In cluster analysis based on the UPGMA method, the distances were determined by Euclidean square distance method Dendrogram demonstrated four groups.