Cytogenetics of selected Solanum L. species within a phylogenetic framework

Abstract

We characterized 12 Solanum species using CMA/DAPI banding and/or genome size estimation (1C value) within a phylogenetic perspective. Here, we reported new Constitutive Heterochromatic (CH) data for S. andreanum, S. peruvianum and S. paludosum and new 1C value for S. corneliomulleri and S. andreanum. CH ranged from two (S. viarum) to 42 bands (S. paludosum). Potato species exhibited a higher number of CH blocks, whereas Leptostemonum species generally had fewer blocks, except for S. paludosum. However, no relationship between heterochromatin and evolutive diversification within the genus could be inferred. Mean 1C value varied from 1.0 pg in S. melongena (diploid) to 1.80 pg in S. laciniatum (octaploid), with moderate correlation (r = 0.69) with the ploidy level of the species. Our data contribute to understanding genetic and cytogenetic diversification within Solanum in a phylogenetic context and are relevant to species characterization, supporting future genetic breeding programs of the genus.