Major cytogenetic landmarks and karyotype analysis in Daucus carota and other Apiaceae

Karyotype analysis provides insights into genome organization at the chromosome level and into chromosome evolution. Chromosomes were marked for comparative karyotype analysis using FISH localization of rDNA genes for the first time in Apioideae species including taxa of economic importance and several wild Daucus relatives. Interestingly, Daucus species did not vary in number of rDNA loci despite variation in chromosome number (2n = 18, 20, 22, and 44) and previous publications suggesting multiple loci. All had single loci for both 5S and 18S-25S (nucleolar organizing region) rDNA, located on two different chromosome pairs. The 5S rDNA was on the short arm of a metacentric chromosome pair in D. crinitus (2n = 22) and D. glochidiatus (2n = 44) and on the long arm of a metacentric pair in other Daucus species, suggesting possible rearrangement of this chromosome. For other Apiaceae, from two (Apium graveolens), to three (Orlaya grandiflora), to four (Cuminum cyminum) chromosomes had 18S-25S rDNA sites. Variability for number and position of the 5S rDNA was also observed. FISH signals enabled us to identify 20-40% of the chromosome complement among species examined. Comparative karyotype analysis provides insights into the fundamental aspects of chromosome evolution in Daucus.