CYTOGENETIC ASSAY OF CENOPOPULATION OF KOCHIA PROSTRATA IN KALMYKIA

Abstract

The article presents data on cytogenetic research of cenopopulation of a Kochia prostrata in the range of large morphostructure of the Republic of Kalmykia. Considering lack of consensus concerning classification of the Kochia prostrata, a study of chromosome number of karyotypes aimed at bringing in cytogenetic features is carried out in this work for an explanation of intraspecific differentiation of Kochia prostrata on morphological features. For fixation of material, coloring of chromosomes and preparation of cytologic smears the standard methods modified in relation to the Kochia prostrata were used. The number of chromosomes of the Kochia prostrata was calculated in mother cells of microspores. Thus, when studying the number of chromosomes in mother cells of pollen in meiosis in 7 cenopopulations of Kochia prostrata, the karyotypic groups with different number of chromosomes are revealed: 2n = 18, 2n = 36, 2n = 54. Furthermore, karyotypic group was associated not with a morphostructure, but with the soil type. 36-chromosomal cenopopulation, for instance, were associated with light brown and dark-chestnut solonetzic soils, 18-chromosomal cenopopulation - with light brown soils of higher salinity level, 54-chromosomal cenopopulation - with brown desert-steppe soils of different salinity level. The revealed differences of cenopopulation of the Kochia prostrata in number of chromosomes testify to deep intraspecific differentiation. It is not excluded that the revealed chromosomal forms are representatives of different types. For a complete proof of this assumption it is necessary to conduct additional researches on hybridization of these objects.