Cytological and electrophoretic relationships Of some Plantago L. species

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Botany Department, Faculty of Science Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.

Abstract

The relationship among 15 samples representing 9 species and 8 sections of Plantago, based on electrophoretic
seed protein profile , as well as karyotype data is discussed in the light of their current sectional and sub sectional
delimitation. The delimitation of P. lanceolata as a separate identity from P. afra is congruent with the
taxonomic differences between these two species,while its separation from P. amplexicaulis and P. cylindrica
matches the cytological differences between them. The separation of P. alpina and P. coronopus based on the
electrophoretic pattern of their seed protein is congruent with the chromosomal differences between them, P.
alpina is a tetraploid with 2n=24 and a base number of X=6, whereas P. coronopus is diploid with 2n=10 and
X=5. The delimitation of P. afra supports its taxonomic separation from the other studied species. The pattern of
protein electrophoresis under reducing conditions distinguished P. major from the remaining species. This
separation is supported by the delimitation of this species in a separate section i.e. Plantago. The separation of P.
media from P. amplexicaulis and P. cylindrica by the analysis of protein pattern, under reducing condition,
confirms their separation based on morphological and chromosomal differences between them. Under nonreducing
condition P. amplexicaulis and P. cylindrica are separated together as one group distinct from P. major
and P. media which are delimited as another group

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