Four species belonging to two subgenera of Iranian Allium species were chromosomally and karyotypically assessed, using squash technique and feulgen stain. Ploidy level of A. longivaginatum, A. hooshidaryae and A. remediorum (2n = 2x = 16) are reported for the first time. Results indicated that A. rotundum is tetraploid (2n=4x= 32). Two CHROMOSOME types (‘ ‘ m’ ’ , ‘ ‘ sm’ ’ ) formed different karyotypic formulas. Mean CHROMOSOME length varied from 7. 8-13. 56 μ m. The results show that Allium longivaginatum has the most asymmetrical karyotype.

CHROMOSOME NUMBER as a character in plants is so important. It helps to solve affinities, ecological changes and effect of these changes on ploidy level of species and populations. CHROMOSOME NUMBERs of so many species of flora Iran have not been reported. In this study, nine species with 11 populations from several families were studied. Melica persica and Silene vulgaris have two populations. CHROMOSOME counts of Papaver rhoeas (2n=14) and Filipendula vulgaris (2n=28) were reported for the first time from Iranian population. Silene vulgaris (2n=24), Phlomis olivieri (2n=20), Vicia armena (2n=10) and Melica persica (2n=18) were studied for the second time from Iranian populations. Tanacetum pinnatum (2n=18), Vicia persica (2n=10) and Papaver bracteatum (2n=14) were another species that investigated in this study. Ideogram of each population was depicted.

CHROMOSOME NUMBERs are reported for Ranunculus dolosus (Ranunculaceae), 2n=32 and Silene conoidea (Caryophyllaceae), 2n=24. These species were collected from NW Iran in W Azarbaijan Province. Idiograms were prepared for both species. Symmetrical karyotypes are placed in class 1B in Ranunculus dolosus and class 1A in Silene conoidea. Karyotype formula are 8m+6sm+2st in Ranunculus dolosus and 12m in Silene conoidea.

Bromus danthoniae Trin. is an annual grass species which grows mainly on dry grassy rocky mountain slopes and grassy steppe, and is grazed by many herbivores and recognized as a useful pasture plant. The CHROMOSOME NUMBER, morphological and anatomical traits of 82 genotypes of B. danthoniae belonging to three sub-taxa were investigated. Twenty-seven quantitative and 20 qualitative morphological traits were evaluated. The results of analysis of variance showed that B. danthoniae genotypes varied significantly for all quantitatively tested traits. Based on cluster analysis, the genotypes were divided into four groups which mostly corresponded to their subspecies identities. According to correlation analysis, lemma length had strong positive correlations with other traits such as awn length (r=0. 55**), lemma width (r=0. 72**) and caryopsis length (r=0. 84**). In addition, lemma width was significantly correlated with the traits like floret NUMBER per spikelet (r=0. 47**) and caryopsis length (r=0. 58**). Based on factor analysis, the first three factors encompass about 51% of total variation. Overall, lemma length and lemma width were the two reliable traits for morphological investigations in this species. The results of CHROMOSOME counting showed that B. danthoniae subsp. danthoniae and B. danthoniae var. lanuginusos Roshev. were diploid (2n=2x=14) whereas B. danthoniae subsp. pseudodanthoniae (Drobov) H. Scholz was tetraploid (2n=4x=28). The results of leaf surface anatomy showed that tetraploid genotypes had larger stomata but lower stomatal density than the diploid ones, thus a comprehensive relationship between genome size and guard cell size cannot be ruled out as a plausible explanation for differentiating the ploidy levels. The high morphological variations among the B. danthoniae genotypes explain the habitat distribution of this species and enable us to incorporate this knowledge into practice by exploiting the variation for improvement of pasture production.

Bromusis a large genus of Poaceae. Some species are important as forages while some are famous weeds. This genus is distributed in different habitats of Iran by 44 species. In this project, 44 accessions of 13 species ofBromus have been studied for CHROMOSOME counting. CHROMOSOME NUMBER of species were from 2n=2x=14 to 2n=6x=42. B. scoparius, B. sterilis, B. madritensis, B. briziformis, B. danthoniae, B. sericeus, B. pseudodanthoniae, B. tectorum, B. rubensvar. rubens were diploid (2n=2x=14). InB. japonicus all accessions were triploid (2n=3x=21). B. oxyodon has 2n=4x=28 CHROMOSOME NUMBER. B. kopetdaghensis one diploid accessions with 2n=2x=14 and two hexaploid accessions 2n=6x=42 were observed for the first time. B. tomentelluswas found to be pentaploid (2n=5x=35).

The biogeography of genusLinaria was revealed by the available CHROMOSOME counts from all over the world.CHROMOSOME NUMBERs of 92 taxa of the genusLinaria are included in an on-line karyological database.Furthermore, information about CHROMOSOME NUMBERs taken from 374 literature sources was used in this paper.Each database record includes name of taxon, data on CHROMOSOME and data on the origin of the material and species-area distribution. Each database also provides a reported CHROMOSOME NUMBER and place of publication.More than half of the available species in CHROMOSOME data are diploid or consist of both diploid and polyploid populations and a few NUMBERs of the species are polyploid. For the first time, in this study, mitosis and meiosis CHROMOSOME NUMBERs of 13 populations belonging to three species, namelyL. lineolata Boiss (2n=2x=12), L.fastigiataChav. (2n=2x=12) and L. dalmatica (L.) Mill. (2n=2x=12), were determined by examining anthers.In addition, pollen stainability has been documented inLinaria populations in Iran.

Molecular studies show that okra germplasm harbour narrow genetic diversity despite certain level of phenotypic variation in Turkey. However, there is a gap in the information on the cytogenetics of Turkish okra genotypes.  Studies on the cytogenetics and ploidy level may provide further information on the genetic diversity of Turkish okra germplasm. This study, therefore, investigated nuclear DNA content, ploidy level and CHROMOSOME NUMBER of 26 okra landraces and 3 commercial cultivars (Akköy-41, Kabaklı-11 and Marmara-1). The 2C nuclear DNA content varied from 3.05 to 3.20 pg with mean 2C values ranging between 3.11 and 3.18. The variation in nuclear DNA content was, however, statistically insignificant. Okra had a high NUMBER of CHROMOSOMEs with very small sizes. The CHROMOSOME NUMBER of the plants investigated in the study was determined to be 2n (10x)= 128±2. Based on these results, the genotypes investigated are, probably, allodehaploid with some extra CHROMOSOMEs and B CHROMOSOMEs. In conclusion, the Okra germplasm has a narrow base of genetic diversity in the germplasm pool, which may limit the success of future breeding programs. Suggestions are discussed to enhance genetic diversity in the germplasm for more effective breeding programs.

Karyotypes of five populations ofThymus transcaspicus from different geographic sites in Iran are presented. The basic CHROMOSOME NUMBER of the studied populations was obtained as x=15. Presence of 30 CHROMOSOMEs in Tiwan, Hikooh, Pakotel and Golmakharan populations and 60 CHROMOSOMEs in Reiin population corresponds to diploid (2n =2x=30) and tetraploid levels (2n=4x=60), respectively. CHROMOSOME NUMBER of 2n=30 is reported for the first time in the species. Metacentric CHROMOSOMEs are the most common, but sub-metacentric CHROMOSOMEs are rare.Based on intrachromosomal asymmetry (A1 and TF %), population Reiin had the most asymmetric karyotype and population Golmakharan had the most symmetrical karyotype among the populations. According to interchromosomal asymmetry (A2 and DRL), among diploid populations, population Pakotal had the asymmetrical karyotype. The results indicate that at least in IranT. transcaspicus is not a uniform species in regard to its CHROMOSOME NUMBER and karyotype. Meanwhile poloidy has played a role in the evolution within species.

Karyotype studies were performed in four Astragalus species of A. cornu-carpae, A. mucronifolius, A. talimansurensis from the section Leucocersis and A. crysostachys from the section Hymenostegis. All four species showed 2n=2x=16 CHROMOSOME NUMBER and had metacentric and sub-metacentric CHROMOSOMEs. The size of CHROMOSOMEs varied from 0.75 mm in A. talimansurensis to 4.00 mm in A. cornu-carpae. The species studied differed significantly in the size of their CHROMOSOMEs and in karyotype formulae indicating the role of quantitative change in the chromatin (DNA) material as well as CHROMOSOMEs structural changes in the species diversification. The CHROMOSOME NUMBERs of all four species studied are new to science. PCA ordination of the species showed their karyotype distinctness and that such data are of no use in the sectional delimitation in Astragalus.

Introduction: Infantile autism is a clinical heterogenous disorder with unknown etiology. Evidences from the relatively few family and twin studies suggest a genetic component. It is concluded that in some cases chromosomal rearrangements are the basic causes. The aim of the present work is to report a 4-year-old autistic boy with a genetic approch. Materials & Methods: Family history, pedigree pattern and CHROMOSOMEs of the proband and his parents were studied (G-banding). Results: There was no any other case in his family history. Chromosomal study has revealed a maternal origin rearranged CHROMOSOME NUMBER 15. Conclusion: The results of present study confirmed that chromosomal study is one of the first necessities in the study of autism, and it will help us for a better genetic counseling with families with an autisic child.