Biosystematic study of 4 populations of Astragalus macrostachys DC. of Astragalus sect. Malacothrix Bunge in Iran

In this investigation, meiotic behavior, morphological and pollen morphological characters of 4 populations belonging to A. macrostachys DC. of Astragalus sect. Malacothrix Bunge in Iran were studied. Results showed that 3 populations were diploid and represented 2n=2x=16 chromosome number and the only tetraploid population showed 2n=4x=32 chromosome number. Although the taxa represented regular bivalent pairing at meiosis, some abnormalities such as laggard and fragmented chromosomes in anaphase/telophase I, II and diakinesis/methaphase I, cytomixis in anaphase/telophase I, II, multipolar cells in telophase II, binuclei cells in prophase I and bridges in anaphase I and telophase II were observed. Data analysis from meiotic study of four populations in the species using UPGMA and PCO methods showed that, in the taxa studied, there were two main groups.