Estimation of genome size in species of the tribe Cestreae (Solanaceae) by image cytometry.

Abstract

Estimation of genome size in species of the tribe Cestreae (Solanaceae) by image cytometry. Cestrum, Sessea and Vestia genera belong to Cestreae tribe and have several chromosome characteristics that differentiate it from other species of Solanaceae, such as number and size. Genome size would contribute to new hypotheses about evolution in basal clades of Solanaceae. To estimate the genome size Cestreae species was used image cytometry of telophase and interphase nuclei stained with Feulgen technique. The values of genome size in species analyzed ranging from 17.22 to 24.40 Gpb (2C), being the largest genome sizes of the family. Furthermore, the results show that the image cytometry is an alternative method to flow cytometry for the determination of the genome size in practical and economical way.