CYTOLOGICAL ANALYSIS IN A POPULATION OF Bomarea salsilla (L.) MIRB. (ALSTROEMERIACEAE) FROM BIOBIO REGION, CHILE

Carlos Baeza¹* y Rosa Silva²

ABSTRACT

Bomarea salsilla (L.) Mirb. is an endemic species of Chile that belongs to the family Alstroemeriaceae. It is widely distributed throughout the country and it has a high ornamental potential. This study describes the karyotype of a population of this species from BiobÍo Region, Chile. A karyotype 2n = 2x = 18, with a haploid formula of 2m + 1sm + 3st + 2st-sat + 1t-sat, was determined. These results were compared with those previously published for other population of the same species but from Valparaiso Region. It was concluded that both populations have practically the same karyotype and asymmetry indices, which reinforces the idea that the karyotype is very stable within some species, regardless of their geographical distribution.

Key words: Alstroemeriaceae, B. salsilla, karyotype, Chile.

¹ Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Departamento de Botánica, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 2407, Concepción, Chile

² Escuela de Ciencias y Tecnología, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 341, Los Ángeles

* Autor para correspondencia E-mail: cbaeza@udec.clS