Abstract We evaluated domesticated Capsicum pepper species from Brazil using classical and molecular cytogenetic techniques, and describe here for the first time their immunostaining patterns using anti-H4K5ac and anti-H3S10ph antibodies. All accessions showed 2n = 24 chromosomes with metacentric and submetacentric morphologies. CMA3 patterns ranged from four terminal bands in most accessions to 18 variable CMA++/DAPI- and CMA+/DAPI0 bands. Anti-H4K5ac signals were detected in the decondensed terminal euchromatin of most chromosome arms, indicating gene-rich open chromatin regions. Anti-H3S10ph signals were restricted to pericentromeric regions and were associated with sister chromatid cohesions and/or the condensation of all mitotic chromosomes. These karyological analyses constitute valuable diagnostic tools for identifying cultivated peppers, will be important to Capsicum breeding programs and will provide additional cytogenetic features that can be used for the conservation of capsicum genetic resources.

Este trabalho teve por objetivo caracterizar numérica e morfologicamente os cariótipos de acessos de Capsicum annum, Capsicum chinense, Capsicum frutencens e Capsicum baccatum pertencentes à coleção do Banco ativo de Germoplasma de Capsicum sp. da Universidade Federal do Piauí (BGC-UFPI). Estas espécies têm grande importância econômica em todo mundo, e a caracterização citogenética fornece informações importantes para estudos de taxonomia bem como para programas de melhoramento genético do gênero na qual estão inseridas. Os cariótipos foram obtidos pelo método de esmagamento e coloração com Giemsa de células dos meristemas das radículas dos acessos estudados. A partir dos resultados verificou-se número cromossômico 2n = 2x = 24 para todas as quatro espécies. Foi observado polimorfismo cromossômico para o acesso BGC 37 da espécie C. frutencens, que apresentou 12 pares de cromossomos metacêntricos, diferindo dos outros que apresentaram 11 pares de cromossomos metacêntricos e 1 par de cromossomo sub-metacêntrico. Visualizou-se nos acessos BGC 01 e BGC 37 desta espécie constrições secundárias nos homólogos 1 e 12, e 6 e 11, respectivamente. Os cariótipos das espécies estudadas foram assimétricos entre si. Os resultados obtidos neste estudo corroboram com a grande diversidade genética descrita na literatura para o gênero Capsicum.

This study aimed to determine the chromosome number and the karyotype of Capsicum annuum, Capsicum chinense, Capsicum frutencens and Capsicum baccatum accessions in the active Capsicum sp. genebank at the Federal University of Piauí (BGC-UFPI). These species have great economic importance throughout the world, and their cytogenetic characterization can inform taxonomy and lead to improvement in the genus. Karyotypes were obtained from the rootlet meristems of the studied accessions using the squash method and Giemsa staining. The chromosome number 2n=2x=24 was verified for each of the four species. Chromosomal polymorphisms were observed for the C. frutencens accession BGC 37, which presented 12 pairs of metacentric chromosomes instead of 11 pairs of metacentric chromosomes and 1 submetacentric chromosome pair present in other accessions. In the accessions BGC 01 and BGC 37, secondary constrictions were observed in the 1 and 12 as well as in the 6 and 11 homologs, respectively. The karyotypes of the studied species were asymmetrical among themselves. The results obtained in this study confirm the high genetic diversity previously described in the literature for this genus.

Endive (Cichorium endivia L.) and chicory (C. intybus L.) both have 2n = 18, but until now, there has been no detailed karyomorphological characterization. The present work evaluated five accessions of each species using FISH with rDNA probes and fluorochrome staining with CMA and DAPI. Both species presented distinct banding patterns after fluorochrome staining: while endive had proximal CMA++/DAPI- bands in the short arms of pairs 1, 2 and 3, chicory had proximal CMA-positive bands in chromosomes 1 and 3 and interstitial in the short arm of chromosome 8. Among endive accessions, FISH procedures revealed conserved position and number of 5S and 45S rDNA sites (two and three pairs, respectively), associated with the CMA-positive bands. Notwithstanding, polymorphisms were detected within chicory accessions regarding the number and the distribution of rDNA sites in relation to the most frequent karyotype (two pairs with 45S and one with 5S rDNA). The karyological markers developed allowed karyotypic differentiation between both species, uncovering peculiarities in the number and position of rDNA sites, which suggest chromosome rearrangements, such as translocations in chicory cultivars. The interspecific and intraspecific polymorphisms observed emphasize the potential of karyomorphological evaluations, helping our understanding of the relationships and evolution of the group.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a diversidade genética intra e interespecífica de acessos de Manihot por meio de marcadores ISSR. Foram analisadas cinco espécies e duas variedades de Manihot, além de duas espécies do gênero Croton, utilizadas como grupo externo, por meio de 20 oligonucleotídeos iniciadores (Olii) ISSR UBC. Para análise do índice de similaridade entre as espécies e os acessos foram utilizados os coeficientes de Jaccard e de 'simple matching'. Os 20 Olii testados foram altamente polimórficos para todas as espécies analisadas, e 89,7% dos locus foram polimórficos. Há maior similaridade genética entre espécies diferentes de Manihot, como M. dichotoma var. undulata e M. caerulescens, do que entre indivíduos da mesma espécie, como M. dichotoma e M. dichotoma var. undulata.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the genetic diversity within and among accessions of Manihot by using ISSR markers. Five species and two varieties of Manihot, besides two species of the genus Croton, used as the out‑group, were analyzed by using 20 oligonucleotide (Olii) ISSR UBC primers. To analyze the similarity index between species and accessions, the Jaccard and simple matching coefficients were used. The 20 Olii tested were highly polymorphic in all species analyzed, and 89.7% of the loci were polymorphic. A higher genetic variability is observed among different species of Manihot, such as M. dichotoma var. undulata and M. caerulescens, than among individuals of the same species, such as M. dichotoma and M. dichotoma var. undulata.

Este estudo foi baseado na análise morfológica de material herborizado e observação dos espécimes em seu habitat natural. Foram registradas nove espécies diferenciadas, principalmente, pelo sistema caulinar, filotaxia, tipo de folha, cor das flores, tipologia das inflorescências e morfologia das cápsulas. Destas espécies, duas (Oxalis corniculata L. e O. cratensis Oliver ex Hooker) possuem distribuição preferencial nas zonas do Litoral e Mata até a subzona do Agreste. Oxalis psoraleoides Kunth apresenta ampla distribuição em todo Estado. Oxalis triangularis A. St.-Hil. e O. frutescens L. distribuem-se desde as zonas do Litoral e Mata até a subzona do Sertão. Oxalis divaricata Mart. ex Zucc. distribui-se nas subzonas do Agreste e Sertão, ocorrendo também no Arquipélago de Fernando de Noronha. Oxalis hedysarifolia Raddi habita a zona da Mata e a subzona do Agreste apenas em regiões serranas. Oxalis debilis Kunth é restrita a subzona do Agreste e Oxalis glaucescens Norlind é a única com distribuição exclusiva nas caatingas, geralmente, em áreas sedimentares na subzona do Sertão. Chave para identificação, comentários sobre afinidades e distribuição geográfica, bem como ilustrações, são fornecidas.

This study was based on morphological analyses from both herbaria and field material. Nine species were recorded, distinguished from each other mainly by the root system, phyllotaxis, leaf type, color of the flowers and inflorescence and capsule morphology. Of these species, two (Oxalis corniculata L. and O. cratensis Oliver ex Hooker) showed preferential distribution from the Litoral and Forest zones to the Agreste subzone. Oxalis psoraleoides Kunth is widely distributed over the entire state. Oxalis triangularis A. St.-Hil. and O. frutescens L. are distributed from the Littoral and Forest zones to the Sertão subzone. Oxalis divaricata Mart. ex Zucc. is distributed in the Agreste and Forest subzones, occurring also at Fernando de Noronha Archipelago. Oxalis hedysarifolia Raddi occurs in the Forest zone and in the Agreste subzone, where it is restrict to the mountains. Oxalis debilis Kunth is restricted to the Agreste zone, and Oxalis glaucescens Norlind is the only one found exclusively in sandy caatingas, in the Sertão subzone. Identification keys, comments on the affinities and geographic distribution, as well as illustrations, are presented.

Meiotic chromosomes obtained from members of the coleopteran subfamilies Rutelinae and Dynastinae were studied using standard and silver nitrate staining, C-banding, base-specific fluorochromes and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). The study presents detailed karyotipic descripitions of three Rutelinae species (Geniates borelli, Macraspis festiva and Pelidnota pallidipennis), and two Dynastinae species (Lygirus ebenus and Strategus surinamensis hirtus) with special emphasis on the distribution and variability of constitutive heterochromatin and the nucleolar organizer region (NOR). We found that for G. borelli, P. pallidipennis, L. ebenus and S. s hirtus the karyotype was 2n = 20 (9II + Xy p), with G. borelli, P. pallidipennis and L. ebenus showed meta-submetacentric chromosomes which gradually decreased in size. For Macraspis festiva the karyotype was 2n = 18 (8II + Xy p). In L. ebenus we found that the NOR was located on an autosome, but in the other four species it occurred on the sex bivalents. In all five species the constitutive heterochromatin (CH) was predominantly pericentromeric while the X chromosomes were almost completely heterochomatic, although CMA3/DA/DAPI staining showed intra and interspecific variation in the bright fluorescence of the constitutive heterochromatin. The FISH technique showed rDNA sites on the X chromosome of the Rutelinae species.