CARYOLOGIA Vol. 58, no. 2: 95-101, 2005 (1229)
Chromosomal polymorphism and speciation in Laetacara cf. dorsigera (Teleostei, Perciformes, Cichlidae) from the river Parana´ PR Brazil
Martins-Santos* Isabel Cristina, Ana Luiza De Brito Portela-Castro and Horacio
Ferreira Julio Jr.
Department of Cell and Genetic Biology/Nupelia, State University of Maringa´; Department of Cell Biology and Genetics,
Avenida Colombo, 5790; 87.020-900, Maringa´, Parana´, Brazil.
Abstract — Four sympatric and syntopic karyotype forms of Laetacara cf. dorsigera, centric fusion-originated were
analyzed. Specimens with 2n=46, 2n=45, 2n=44 and 2n=43 chromosomes and differences with regard to the number
of metacentric chromosomes, inversely proportional to their diploid number, were reported. Karyotypic formulae of
the four cytotypes were: cytotype A=2M + 44A; cytotype B=3M + 42A; cytotype C=4M + 40A and cytotype D=5M
+ 38A and fundamental number constant (NF=48). Two centric fusion events are suggested: a) Robertsonian translocation,
which originated the first and second metacentric chromosomal pairs; b) isochromosome formed by the fusion
of acrocentric homologous chromosomes in cytotypes with odd chromosomes. Genetic balance in the four
karyotype forms of Laetacara cf. dorsigera seemed to have been determinant to their reproductive isolation. The presence
of individuals with different karyotypic structures living in sympatry and syntopy and the absence of “intermediate
individuals” (recombinants), that would have been expected in a panmitic population, permit one to conclude
that probably form 4 cryptic species exist in the population.
Key words: Centric fusion, chromosomal polymorphism, Cichlidae, Laetacara cf. dorsigera, Perciformes, sympatric
evolution.
CARYOLOGIA Vol. 58, no. 2: 102-111, 2005 (1271)
Comparative cytogenetic studies in species of the subfamily Callichthyinae (Teleostei: Siluriformes: Callichthyidae)
Shimabukuro-Dias Cristiane Kioko1, Claudio Oliveira1,* and Fausto Foresti1
1 Departamento de Morfologia, Instituto de Biocieˆncias, Universidade Estadual Paulista, 18618-000, Botucatu, SP,
Brazil.
Abstract — In the present study, the karyotype of three species (nine populations) of the Callichthyinae subfamily
were investigated with the objective of better understanding the pattern of relationship among the genera that compose
the subfamily. Among the four populations of Callichthys callichthys studied, two showed 2n=56 chromosomes
and two 2n=58 chromosomes. Up to eight additional microchromosomes were observed in the sample from Marı´lia.
The three populations of Hoplosternum littorale displayed the same number of chromosomes, 2n=60, and karyotypic
constitution, 6M+2SM+52A. The two populations of Megalechis personata showed 2n=62 chromosomes and similar
karyotypic formulae, 8M+54A and 6M+2SM+54A. Terminal Ag-NORs were found in one chromosome pair of C.
callichthys, H. littorale, and M. personata from Itiquira, and in two pairs in M. personata from Rio Branco. The populations
of C. callichthys showed C-band positive segments in centromeric and pericentromeric position and the populations
of H. littorale and M. personata exhibited C-band positive segments in centromeric and/or interstitial position.
Contrarily to the extensive chromosome rearrangements verified in the Corydoradinae subfamily, in the Callichthyinae
subfamily a small number of changes seems to have occurred in its karyotypic evolution.
Key words: Ag-NOR, C-band, chromosomes, fish cytogenetic, karyotypic evolution.
CARYOLOGIA Vol. 58, no. 2: 112-121, 2005 (1334)
Nucleus size in the host cells of an Arbuscular Mycorrhizal system: a mathematical approach to estimate the role of ploidy and chromatin condensation.
Guido Lingua1, Antonio Trotta2, Valeria Prigione2, Roberto Ugoccioni3 and Graziella
Berta1*.
1 Dipartimento di Scienze dell’Ambiente e della Vita, Universita` degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale, via Bellini,
25/G − 15100 Alessandria, Italy.
2 Dipartimento di Biologia Vegetale, Universita` degli Studi di Torino, viale P. A. Mattioli 25 − 10125 Torino, Italy.
3 Dipartimento di Fisica Teorica, Universita` degli Studi di Torino, via P. Giuria 1 − 10125 Torino, Italy.
Abstract—In order to better understand which are the factors involved in the control of nuclear size, and more precisely,
to clarify why nuclear hypertrophy doesn’t always follow genome increase, biological techniques combined
with a strict mathematical approach have been applied to study the nuclei of root cortical cells of Lycopersicon esculentum
Mill cv Early Mech. Tomato is a multiploid plant, with three different levels of DNA content, therefore it is
especially suitable to study nucleus size according to genome size. In addition, as arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization
strongly affects nucleus organization, part of the plants were inoculated with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus
Glomus mosseae BEG 12. Quantitative and qualitative nuclear changes have been analyzed in mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal roots of tomato, by means of microscopy, immuno-labelling and flow cytometry. The results, supported
by mathematical analysis, clearly show that increased ploidy is necessary, but not sufficient, to explain nuclear hypertrophy,
in which chromatin decondensation is also involved and related to cell metabolic activity.
Key words: Arbuscular Mycorrhizae; Chromatin condensation; Histone H1; Nucleus size; Ploidy.
CARYOLOGIA Vol. 58, no. 2: 122-131, 2005 (1336)
Ultrastructural study on host-guest relationships between anuran serous cutaneous glands and nematodes
Murat Sevinc1, Daniele Nosi2, Rossana Brizzi3, Alessandro Terreni4, Cecilia Malentacchi5,
Giovanni Delfino3*
1 Department of Biology, Science and Art Faculty, Uludag University 16059 Bursa, Turkey.
2 Dipartimento di Istologia, Anatomia Umana e Medicina Legale, Universita` di Firenze, viale Morgagni 85, 50134
Firenze, Italy.
3 Dipartimento di Biologia Animale e Genetica, Universita` di Firenze, via Romana 17, 50125 Firenze, Italy.
4 Laboratorio Centrale di Analisi Biochimico-Cliniche; Azienda Ospedaliera di Careggi, viale Morgagni 85, 50134
Firenze, Italy.
5 Dipartimento di Fisiopatologia clinica, Unita` di Genetica umana, Universita` di Firenze,viale Pieraccini 6, 50139
Firenze, Italy.
Abstract—We described guest nematodes in serous and lipid skin glands in two anuran species from the Old and
New Worlds: Rana camerani and Phyllomedusa hypochondrialis, respectively. These glands are involved in three
types of response: a) invaginations from the periluminal plasma membrane which accommodate the “round worms”;
b) secretory release into such hosting chambers; c) migration of macrophages from the periglandular stroma to the
secretory unit. There are no obvious signs suggesting the glands are harmed by the nematodes, nor are the latter affected
by defence reactions, either secretory or cell-mediated, of their hosts. Nematodes are natural tracers which allow
analysis of the inner space system (lumina as well as interstitia) in the glands. Furthermore, they provide the opportunity
for functional characterisation of anuran serous glands under intrusion stress, revealing peculiar reactive
traits, namely a pliable periluminal plasma membrane and inducible processes of secretory release.
Key words: Nematoda, Phyllomedusa hypochondrialis, Rana camerani, serous glands, skin, ultrastructure
CARYOLOGIA Vol. 58, no. 2: 132-139, 2005 (1277)
Cytogenetical study of some Iranian pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cultivars
Sheidai Masoud1,*, Mahmood Khandan2 and Shahrzad Nasre-Esfahani2
1 Biology Department, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.
2 Genetic Department, Science and Research Division, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract — Meiotic studies were performed on 22 Punica granatum cultivars of Iran considering ploidy level, chiasma
frequency and chromosomes association. All the cultivars studied possessed n = 8 (diploid) chromosome
number but varied significantly in their chiasma frequency, chromosome pairing and segregation indicating their genomic
difference. A low number of quadrivalents were formed in some of the cultivars possibly due to translocations.
Cluster and ordination based on Principal Components Analysis grouped those cultivars showing meiotic similarities.
Key words: Chiasma frequency, chromosome pairing, cluster analysis, Punica granatum
CARYOLOGIA Vol. 58, no. 2: 140-151, 2005 (1290)
Karyology of two species of Caecilians (Caeciliidae: Gymnophiona): Evolution through tandem fusion and sex chromosome dimorphism
Venu Govindappa and Govindaiah Venkatachalaiah *
Centre for Applied Genetics, Department of Zoology, Bangalore University, Bangalore-560 056, India.
Abstract—Mitotic and meiotic chromosomal karyotypes have been described for Gegeneophis ramaswamii and G.
usp (unspecified species).
Based on the available karyological information from among the eight species of Gegeneophis, a tentative scheme is
proposed for their karyotypic phylogeny. A closer scrutiny of one of the two in an otherwise homologous chromosomal
pair (chromosome number 13) in the complement is suggestive of a XX-XY sex-chromosome differentiation.
Key words: Gegeneophis, karyotype, phylogeny, Sex-chromosomal differentiation, tandem fusion.
CARYOLOGIA Vol. 58, no. 2: 152-163, 2005 (1305)
Cytogenetics and Cytotaxonomy of Brazilian Species of Senna Mill. (Cassieae - Caesalpinioideae - Leguminosae).
Biondo Elaine1, Sı´lvia T.S. Miotto1, Maria Teresa Schifino-Wittmann2* and Biane de
Castro2
1 Programa de Po´ s-Graduac¸a˜o em Botaˆnica, Departamento de Botaˆnica, Instituto de Biocieˆncias, UFRGS, Av.
Bento Gonc¸alves 9.500, Pre´dio 43433, Campus do Vale 91501-970, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
2 Departamento de Plantas de Forrageiras e Agrometeorologia, Faculdade de Agronomia, UFRGS, Caixa Postal
15100 91501-970, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Abstract—Chromosome numbers, meiotic behaviour, meiotic indexes and pollen fertility are reported for 17 Senna
Mill. species occurring in Southern Brazil. Haploid numbers were n=11, 12, 13, 14 and 28. No intraspecific variability
was detected; n=14 predominated. The only accession of S. rugosa showed to be tetraploid, in contrast to the a
previous reference for this species. Meiotic behaviour was generally regular for all species and accessions, but some
irregularities such as uni and multivalents and unequal segregation were occasionally observed. Meiotic indexes were
high, over 95%. Mean pollen fertility was over 81% for all species, but in some taxa much lower values were found in
some accessions. All species had prolate-spheroidal pollen grains. No relation between grain size, taxonomic position
and chromosome number could be established. Our results, together with literature data, suggest that x=14 is
the basic number for the genus, probably a secondary number derived from the x=7 suggested for all Caesalpinioideae,
and that the other numbers in the genus represent a disploid series. A broader cytogenetic survey of a more
representative number of species, along the geographic distribution of the genus, should be done addressing questions
such as the extent of intra and inter-specific variability in chromosome number, occurrence of polyploidy and
the real role of disploidy in Senna evolution
Key words: chromosome numbers, disploid chromosome evolution, meiotic behaviour, pollen, Senna
CARYOLOGIA Vol. 58, no. 2: 164-170, 2005 (1308)
Chromosomes in sexual populations of Notostracan and Conchostracan taxa (Crustacea, Branchiopoda)
Marescalchi Ombretta1*, Michele Cesari1, Erich Eder2, Franca Scanabissi1 and Barbara Mantovani1
1 Dipartimento di Biologia Evoluzionistica Sperimentale, Via Selmi 3, 40126, Bologna, Italia.
2 Institut fu¨ r Zoologie der Universita¨t Wien, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090, Wien,O¨ sterreich
Abstract — Branchiopods reproductive mechanisms range from gonochorism to unisexuality, passing through androdioecy.
In order to contribute to still lacking or controversial basic knowledges, we analyzed the karyotype of the
main Italian taxa: the Notostracan living fossils Triops cancriformis (parthenogenetic) and Lepidurus apus lubbocki
(bisexual), and the Conchostracan Eoleptestheria ticinensis (bisexual). Also one male obtained from a supposedly
hermaphroditic Austrian population of T. cancriformis was checked. In T. cancriformis a diploid number of 12 chromosomes
is observed in both females and male; this is in line with previous results on other Italian populations, but
contrasts with observations on European samples. The richness of normal meiotic pictures indicates that the male
specimen is able to produce sperms. L. apus lubbocki shows a diploid number of 10 chromosomes; in male specimens
the mispairings during meiosis I could explain the haploid number of 6 chromosomes obtained from diakinetic
plates in Palestinian samples of the same subspecies found in literature. Irregular meiotic divisions also highlight the
ultrastructurally observed abortive spermatogenesis. Finally, in the presently analyzed population of E. ticinensis, the
adult females show 10 chromosomes as diploid number, while males present 10 or 11 elements; in the nauplii, chromosome
numbers range from 8 to 12, differing among unrelated individuals, between nauplii produced by the same
female and even within the same nauplius. B elements are taken into account.
Key words: B-chromosomes; Eoleptestheria ticinensis; Karyology; Lepidurus apus lubbocki; Sex determination; Triops
cancriformis.
CARYOLOGIA Vol. 58, no. 2: 171-177, 2005 (1310)
Chromosomes of some argentine angiosperms and their taxonomic significance
Sanso1,2* Andrea Mariel and Micaela Noemi Seo1
1 CONICET. Departamento de Ecologı´a, Gene´tica y Evolucio´n, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad
de Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires. Argentina.
2 Instituto de Bota´nica Darwinion. San Isidro. Argentina.
Abstract — Meiotic or mitotic chromosomes of eleven species of angiosperms native in Argentina, belonging to
seven families, were studied in order to be used in cytotaxonomic studies and gain some insights on the evolutive relationships of the different groups. Most of our data were the first cytological information for the species. The genus
Alvaradoa Liebm. was investigated cytologically for the first time. The novel karyologically studied species, all diploid,
were: Bomarea macrocephala Pax and Bomarea stans Kra¨nz. 2n = 18, Loasa bergii Hieron. 2n = 26, Alvaradoa
subovata Cronquist 2n = 16, Schizanthus grahamii Gillies 2n = 20, Viola montagnei Gay and Viola roigii Rossow 2n =
14. The same numbers to the ones previously reported in the literature were found from different populations of Cajophora
chuquitensis (Meyen) Urb. & Gilg. 2n = 18, Ramorinoa girolae Speg. 2n = 20, and Schizanthus grahamii Gillies
2n = 20. The presence of supernumerary chromosomes, 0 to 6, in Ligaria cuneifolia (Ruiz & Pav.) Tiegh., 2n = 20,
was recorded. Data are compared with previously published results and chromosome figures of all studied species
are provided.
Key words: Alvaradoa, argentine angiosperms, Bomarea, chromosomes, Loasa, Schizanthus, Viola.
CARYOLOGIA Vol. 58, no. 2: 178-182, 2005 (1318)
Cytogenetic study of Leposternon and Amphisbaena (Amphisbaenia: Squamata)
Hernando Alejandra
Depto. de Biologı´a. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste,
Av. Libertad 5450 (Campus)W 3404 AAS, (3400) Corrientes, Argentina. E- mail: ahernando@infovia.com.ar
Abstract—Cytogenetic analyses (Giemsa staining and NOR -banding) were performed on South American species
of Amphisbaenidae. Leposternon microcephalum (2n = 34), Amphisbaena darwini heterozonata(2n = 30), A. hiata (2n
= 30) and A. mertensi (2n = 40) from different localities of Argentina were examined. The comparative cytogenetic
analysis indicates that the four species might be distinguished by the NORs locations.
Key words: Ag-NOR; Amphisbaenia; Amphisbaena; chromosomes; Leposternon.
CARYOLOGIA Vol. 58, no. 2: 183-188, 2005 (1320)
Spermatogenesis of Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides (Hymenoptera: Apidae): Fate of the Atypical spermatids.
Conte1 Monica, Jose´ Lino-Neto2, Heidi Dolder1*
1 Departamento de Biologia Celular Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas, Sa˜o Paulo, 13083-
864, Brazil.
2 Departamento de Biologia Celular, Universidade Federal de Vic¸osa (UFV), Vic¸osa, Minas Gerais, 36571-000,
Brazil.
Abstract — Several authors studied the unequal distribution of cytoplasmic content which at the end of meiosis results
in one of the spermatids having practically no cytoplasm. However, there is no clear consensus in relation to the
fate of this smaller cell. Both light and electron microscopy of early round spermatids confirmed the presence of
small cells with only a thin layer of cytoplasm around the nucleus. Routine preparations for electron microscopy
showed degenerating nuclei within enlarged cystic cells, which have also been identified by the E-PTA method for
basic protein. In later stages, a homogeneous population of spermatids is found in the cysts, suggesting that the small
cells have been removed at an earlier stage and do not develop into mature spermatozoa.
Key words: Hymenoptera, Spermatogenesis, Stingless bee.
CARYOLOGIA Vol. 58, no. 2: 189-199, 2005 (1321)
A Karyotypic Study on Manglietia (Magnoliaceae) from China
Heng-Chang Wang1, Ai-Ping Meng1, Jian-Qiang Li1* and Yong-Kang Sima2
1 Department of Taxonomy and Systematics, Wuhan Botanical Garden, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan
Hubei 430074, P. R. China.
2 Yunnan Laboratory for Conservation of the Rare, Endangered & Endemic Forest Plants, State Forestry Administration/
Yunnan Academy of Forestry, Kunming Yunnan 650204, P. R. China.
Abstract — Twenty species of Manglietia and one species of Manglietiastrum from China are cytologically investigated,
of which 12 are reported for the first time. All the studied species are diploid (2n = 38). Chromosomes are medium-
small to small with gradually decreased sizes. The interphase nucleus and the prophase chromosomes of all
species are categorized as the complex chromocenter type and the interstitial type respectively. Karyotype is mainly
of 2B or in rare condition, 2A or 1A. The metacentric (m) and submetacentric (sm) chromosomes are found to form
the main part of chromosome complement while the subtelocentric (st) chromosomes were rare or absent. It seems
that karyotypic variation at the diploid level is the predominant feature of chromosome evolution in Manglietia. Nevertheless,
karyomorphological differences are disordered and show no significant correlation with the morphological
variation and the circumscription of the sampled taxa.
Key words: China, karyomorphology, Manglietia, Manglietiastrum.
CARYOLOGIA Vol. 58, no. 2, 2005 (Obituary)
Marıa Rosa Ferrari and Liliana Mola: “OBITUARY Carlos Alberto Naranjo
(1941-2005)”