Karyomorphological Studies of Six Species of Turkish Muscari (Asparagaceae)

In this study, chromosome length, karyomorphology and chromosome asymmetry of six Turkish Muscari species; Muscari muglaensis, M. nazimiyensis, M. pallens, M. pamiryigidii, M. inundatum and M. fatmaceranie were evaluated. The somatic chromosome number of all examined taxa was determined as 2n=18. The basic chromosome number was x=9. Chromosomes consist of metacentric, submetacentric, and subtelocentric chromosomes. This is the first report on chromosome number and morphology for five of the six taxa studied. Studies on the karyotype and chromosomal diversity of Muscari may provide insight into taxonomic relationships and differences within the genus.