Morphometric analysis on chromosomes of tropical pinus species

Abstract

Karyotypic analysis of Pinus oocarpa Schiede ex Schltdl., Pinus patula Schltdl. & Cham. and of provenances Jócon Yoro, Las Camelias and San Rafael del Norte of Pinus tecunumanii Eguiluz & J. P. Perry were accomplished to provide information for definition of Pinus tecunumanii taxonomic status. Characterization of mitotic chromosomes stained with Giemsa and with 4’, 6-diamidino-2- phenylindoldihydrochlorid (DAPI) fluorochrome confirmed the karyotypic pattern reported for most of the Pinus species, which present eleven pairs of metacentric chromosomes, very similar in regard to length and morphology, and a submetacentric pair for all the taxa studied. Sharp definition of secondary constrictions revealed by DAPI staining allowed distinction of species and provenances by the number and position of this cytological marker. Pinus tecunumanii was also different from the other two species in regard to total length of haploid set. The results support the species status for Pinus tecunumanii as well as present evidence that in addition to point mutations, structural alterations contributed toward intra and interspecies differentiation into the genus Pinus.