Exploration of Karyotype Differentiation in Cells of a Garlic Clone and its Derivative Filial Plants

Abstract

The common garlic (Allium sativum L.) is vegitatively reproduced. Therefore, somatic mutations are the only source of variation and often expressed as chromosomal changes. There is an evidence for this hypothesis regarding satellite position on nucleolar chromosomes and asymmetry of karyotypes. The present work throw more light on the chromosome complement of a flowering clone (Egaseed 2). Using individual plants, some cytological metrics such as chromosome length, arm ratio, centromere position, relative length and karyotype formula were determined in cloves of a single plant and their derivative filial plants. One of the most important cytological parameters is the number and position of secondary constrictions and satellites on SAT-chromosomes. The results showed significant differences in values of karyotype parameters between cells of parental cloves and their F1 filial progeny. Moreover, asymmetrical chromosome measurements were displayed between sister cells of the same root. In addition, a dignified variation in number and position of SAT- chromosomes in the somatic complement of examined cells has been documented.