Characterization of aneuploids in pyrethrum, (Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium), by cytology, morphology, and flow cytometry

Abstract

Aneuploid plants are often used to locate genes or establish linkage, but first, they must be available. In Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium Vis., a plant that produces pyrethrin, a relatively safe natural insecticide, aneuploids had not been categorized before. This research proposed to characterize aneuploids by morphology, cytology, nuclear DNA content, and pyrethrin composition. Aneuploid progeny of triploid parents were examined cytologically and morphologically. HPLC was used to establish pyrethrin composition and nuclear DNA content was calculated from flow cytometry. Five distinct phenotypes were found that may indicate aneuploid status, but not exact chromosome number. Exact chromosome number could only be distinguished cytologically, and ranged from 17 to 36, (2n = 18 for the diploid). Three trisomics were located. Nuclear DNA content indicated diploid or triploid status but not aneuploidy. Some of the aneuploids categorized may be useful in further research to locate pyrethrin genes or their linkages.