CHROMOSOME NUMBER, VOLUME AND NUCLEAR VOLUME RELATIONSHIPS IN A POLYPLOID SERIES (2X-20X) OF THE GENUS RUMEX

Abstract

Ninety-one acquisitions of the genus Rumex obtained from various sources were examined taxonomically and cytologically. These acquisitions included 36 species plus 2 unidentified species. The chromosome numbers counted were 2n = 14 (or 15), 16, 18, 20, 40, 42, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, 160, ca. 170, 180 and ca. 200. The count of 2n = 180 made on one of the R. orbiculatus acquisitions is a new count for this genus, but other acquisitions had 160 and ca. 170. First counts were obtained for four species, R. frutescens (2n = 160), R. crystallinus (2n = 60), R. cristatus (2n = 80) and R. tenax (2n = 80). The count of 2n = 160 for R. frutescens is the highest chromosome number ever reported in the section Axillares. The chromosome numbers determined in R. palustris (2n = 60), R. confertus (2n = 100), R. arcticus (2n = 120) and R. aquaticus (2n = 140) differ from previously published counts. Our counts for eight other species support one of the previous counts where two or more counts are reported. It is shown that the species of the subgenus Acetosa sections Acetosa and Vesicarii and of the subgenus Platypodium have relatively large chromosomes, those of the subgenus Acetosa section Scutati and of the subgenus Acetosella have medium-sized chromosomes, and the members of the subgenus Rumex sections Axillares and Rumex have smaller chromosomes. The chromosomes of the diploid species of the section Rumex were larger than those of the polyploids (4x to 20x) of the same section. Within the section Rumex the log of nuclear volume increased with increasing ploidy, with an abrupt change (decrease) in slope between the 12x and 14x levels.