Karyotype and genome size variation in white-flowered Eranthis sect. Shibateranthis (Ranunculaceae)

Karyotypes and Physical Mapping of Ribosomal DNA with Oligo-Probes in Eranthis sect. Eranthis (Ranunculaceae)

A comparative karyotype analysis of four species of yellow-flowered Eranthis sect. Eranthis, i.e., E. bulgarica, E. cilicica, E. hyemalis, and E. longistipitata from different areas, has been carried out for the first time. All the studied specimens had somatic chromosome number 2n = 16 with basic chromosome number x = 8. Karyotypes of the investigated plants included five pairs of metacentric chromosomes and three pairs of submetacentric/subtelocentric chromosomes. The chromosome sets of the investigated species differ mainly in the ratio of submetacentric/subtelocentric chromosomes, their relative lengths, and arm ratios. A new oligonucleotide probe was developed and tested to detect 45S rDNA clusters. Using this probe and an oligonucleotide probe to 5S rDNA, 45S and 5S rDNA clusters were localized for the first time on chromosomes of E. cilicica, E. hyemalis, and E. longistipitata. Major 45S rDNA clusters were identified on satellite chromosomes in all the species; in E. cilicica, minor clusters were also identified in the terminal regions of one metacentric chromosome pair. The number and distribution of 5S rDNA clusters is more specific. In E. cilicica, two major clusters were identified in the pericentromeric region of a pair of metacentric chromosomes. Two major clusters in the pericentromeric region of a pair of submetacentric chromosomes and two major clusters in the interstitial region of a pair of metacentric chromosomes were observed in E. longistipitata. E. hyemalis has many clusters of different sizes, localized mainly in the pericentromeric regions. Summarizing new data on the karyotype structure of E. sect. Eranthis and previously obtained data on E. sect. Shibateranthis allowed conclusions to be formed about the clear interspecific karyological differences of the genus Eranthis.

Karyotype and genome size variation in Delphinium subg. Anthriscifolium (Ranunculaceae)

Five taxa of Delphiniumsubg.Anthriscifolium have been karyologically studied through chromosome counting, chromosomal measurement, and karyotype symmetry. Each taxon that we investigated has a basic chromosome number of x = 8, D.anthriscifoliumvar.savatieri, D.anthriscifoliumvar.majus, D.ecalcaratum, and D.callichromum were diploid with 2n = 16, while D.anthriscifoliumvar.anthriscifolium was tetraploid with 2n = 32. Monoploid chromosome sets of the investigated diploid taxa contained 1 metacentric chromosome, 3 submetacentric chromosomes, and 4 subtelocentric chromosomes. Higher interchromosomal asymmetry (CVCL) was present in D.ecalcaratum and D.callichromum than in other taxa. The highest levels of intrachromosomal asymmetry (MCA) and heterogeneity in centromere position (CVCI) were found in D.anthriscifoliumvar.majus. Diploid and tetraploid genome sizes varied by 3.02-3.92 pg and 6.04-6.60 pg, respectively. Karyotype and genome size of D.anthriscifoliumvar.savatieri, D.anthriscifoliumvar.majus, D.callichromum, and D.ecalcaratum were reported for the first time. Finally, based on cytological and morphological data, the classification of Delphiniumanthriscifolium was revised.

Comparative Cytogenetics and Fluorescent Chromosome Banding in Five Indian Species of Dipcadi Medik

The genus Dipcadi Medik. (Subfamily: Scilloideae) has a narrow distribution in India and several overlapping morphological traits make the genus taxonomically challenging at the species level. Cytogenetic characterization can provide additional taxonomic data and can be used to evaluate genetic diversity at the species level. We have accomplished comparative karyotype analysis and fluorescence banding patterns using 4'-6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) and Chromomycin A₃ (CMA) in five Indian species for the first time. The karyotypes of D. concanense and D. goaense exhibited similar fluorochrome banding profiles. However, D. montanum, D. ursulae and D. erythraeum differ distinctly in their karyotypes. In all taxa, CMA^+ve/DAPI^-ve or DAPI⁰ (GC-rich) constitutive heterochromatin was located at the constriction region or terminal satellite of the nucleolar chromosome. DAPI^+ve/CMA^-ve or CMA⁰ (AT-rich) heterochromatin dominates in D. montanum, D. ursulae and D. erythraeum. However, D. erythraeum shows a distinct variation in fluorochrome banding pattern from all other species. The distribution of CMA and DAPI bands is a reflection of heterochromatin composition and variations acquired by different species. This characterization can be used to assess phylogenetic relationships in the understudied genus Dipcadi and may serve as a basis for other genomic analyses and evolutionary studies.

Investigation of Chemical Constituents of Eranthis longistipitata (Ranunculaceae): Coumarins and Furochromones

Aqueous-ethanol extracts (70%) from the leaves of Eranthis longistipitata Regel. (Ranunculaceae Juss.)-collected from natural populations of Kyrgyzstan-were studied by liquid chromatography with high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). There was no variation of the metabolic profiles among plants that were collected from different populations. More than 160 compounds were found in the leaves, of which 72 were identified to the class level and 58 to the individual-compound level. The class of flavonoids proved to be the most widely represented (19 compounds), including six aglycones [quercetin, kaempferol, aromadendrin, 6-methoxytaxifolin, phloretin, and (+)-catechin] and mono- and diglycosides (the other 13 compounds). In the analyzed samples of E. longistipitata, 14 fatty acid-related compounds were identified, but coumarins and furochromones that were found in E. longistipitata were the most interesting result; furochromones khelloside, khellin, visnagin, and cimifugin were found in E. longistipitata for the first time. Coumarins 5,7-dihydroxy-4-methylcoumarin, scoparone, fraxetin, and luvangetin and furochromones methoxsalen, 5-O-methylvisammioside, and visamminol-3'-O-glucoside were detected for the first time in the genus Eranthis Salisb. For all the above compounds, the structural formulas are given. Furthermore, detailed information (with structural formulas) is provided on the diversity of chromones and furochromones in other representatives of Eranthis. The presence of chromones in plants of the genus Eranthis confirms its closeness to the genus Actaea L. because chromones are synthesized by normal physiological processes only in these members of the Ranunculaceae family.