Karyomorphology and systematics of the eastern taxa of Genista sect. Spartioides and G. pulchella (Genisteae-Fabaceae).

A karyological analysis of some taxa of Genista sect. Spartioides, distributed in the eastern part of the Mediterranean region, was carried out. The three subspecies of Genista pulchella: ssp. pulchella (western Balkan Peninsula), ssp. aquilana (central Apennines) and ssp. villarsiana (southern France) all present the chromosome number 2n = 18 + (0 - 4B). The taxa of G. albida aggr., G. albida (eastern Mediterranean) and G. involucrata (Ana- tolian), both have 2n = 18 + (0 - 2B); 2n = 36 + (0 - 3B) being rarely found in the latter species. As regards the taxa endemic to the Balkan Peninsula, G. halacsyi and G. subcapitata show 2n = 18 + (0 - 2B), G. sakellariadis and G. millii 2n = 36 + 2B. All these numbers may be traced back to the basic number x = 9. G. pulchella has the most symmetric karyotype, while G. albida and G. involucrata result more asymmetric; the four Balkan endemics (G. halacsyi, G. sakellariadis, G. subcapitata and G. millii) present the highest grade of asymmetry. A comparison with karyological data already available for all the taxa of sect. Spartioides was also made

Genetic characterization of Genista sericea Wulfen (Cytiseae - Fabaceae) as revealed by nuclear DNA content and ITS nrDNA region analysis

Genista sericea Wulfen, a northern Illyrian amphi-Adriatic species, presents a certain morphological variability. To clarify whether the genetic variations support the morphological differences among accessions of different geographic origin, analysis of nuclear DNA content and polymorphism of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) dataset was studied. The variation in nuclear DNA content of G. sericea var. sericea and var. rigida is minimal (2.09 and 2.08 pg/nucleus respectively) and is correlated with equal chromosome numbers in both varieties. Intraspecific variability of the ITS region was studied on 13 accessions of G. sericea, 6 belonging to var. sericea and 7 to var. rigida. These accessions were analyzed in comparison to closely related species already studied. ITS sequences of G. sericea revealed large polymorphism and formed two main clusters. One cluster (6 accessions) comprehends var. sericea of northern Italy, Slovenia and northern Croatia; the other cluster (7 accessions) includes five accessions of var. rigida from southern Croatia and Montenegro and two from the Pollino massif (southern Italy). The later two accessions considerably differed from other accessions of var. rigida. This genetic analysis supports the previous assumptions, which subdivided G. sericea into at least two taxa. On the basis of the results presented, it is here suggested that the subdivision of G. sericea into var. sericea and var. rigida should be maintained

Pollen cards of the Genista radiata group (Genisteae, Fabaceae)

Pollen cards of the taxa of the Genista radiata group [ G. radiata (L.) Scop. var. radiata, G. radiata var. sericopetala Buchegger, G. holopetala (Koch) Bald., G. hassertiana (Bald.) Buchegger] are presented. The acetolyzed pollen was observed by light and scanning electron microscope

Karyological systematics of Genista ifniensis a. Caballero, Genista tricuspidata desf., and related species (Genisteae-Fabaceae)

A karyological analysis of two species endemic to Northwestern Africa (Genista ifniensis A. Caballero and G. tricuspidata Desf.) showed that both species have the chromosome number 2n = 48. A comparison was also made with karyological data already available for the other taxa of sects. Scorpioides Spach and Voglera (Gaertn., Mey. & Schreb.) Spach

Morphometric and karyological study of Genista sericea (Cytiseae-Fabaceae)

A morphometric and karyological study of several populations of Genista sericea, a northern Illyrian amphiadriatic species, with a disjunct distributional area centered on Pollino Massif (southern Italy), has been undertaken, based on herbarium specimens and field research. Morphometric analysis allowed to individuate three distinct groups of populations which are here attributed to three taxa at subspecific level. One of them is here newly described: G. sericea subsp. pollinensis, endemic to northern Calabria in Pollino and neighbouring areas of Basilicata. The taxonomic status of G. sericea var. rigida was re-evaluated and a name of a new rank is proposed: G. sericea subsp. rigida (occurring in southern Illyria), while subsp. sericea is a southeastern Alpine northern Illyrian taxon. The names G. sericea and G. sericea var. rigida are lectotypified. Karyologically, all the taxa are characterized by the same somatic number 2n = 48, sometimes with B chromosomes (up to four)