title: Karyological investigations and new chromosome number reports in Bellevalia Lapeyrouse, 1808 and Muscari Miller, 1758 (Asparagaceae) from Algeria.
abstract: Karyological investigations were carried out on four species of Bellevalia Lapeyrouse, 1808 and Muscari Miller, 1758 (Asparagaceae) sampled in contrasting bioclimatic conditions of Algeria. The endemic Bellevalia mauritanica Pomel, 1874 was found to have a tetraploid cytotype 2n = 4x = 16 and an octoploid 2n = 8x = 32 which is a new report. The chromosome number 2n = 2x = 18 in Muscari comosum (Linnaeus, 1753) Miller, 1768 and Muscari maritimum Desfontaines, 1798 was in conformity with earlier reports. The latter species reveals a lesser bimodality of the karyotype. Within Muscari neglectum Gussone ex Tenore, 1842 pentaploid (2n = 5x = 45), hexaploid (2n = 6x = 54) and very rare octoploid cytotype (2n = 8x = 72) have been reported in Algeria. Principal component analysis performed on basis of karyotype parameters, showed a segregation of the different cytotypes. This study provides new karyological information, which is discussed in a taxonomic context.
authors.affiliation: University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene, Faculty of Biological Sciences, LBPO lab., Team: Biosystematics, Genetic and Evolution. USTHB, PO box 32 El-Alia, Bab-Ezzouar, 16110 Algiers, Algeria.
authors.forename: Nadjat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Azizi
authors.affiliation: University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene, Faculty of Biological Sciences, LBPO lab., Team: Biosystematics, Genetic and Evolution. USTHB, PO box 32 El-Alia, Bab-Ezzouar, 16110 Algiers, Algeria.
authors.forename: Rachid
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Amirouche
authors.affiliation: University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene, Faculty of Biological Sciences, LBPO lab., Team: Biosystematics, Genetic and Evolution. USTHB, PO box 32 El-Alia, Bab-Ezzouar, 16110 Algiers, Algeria.
authors.forename: Nabila
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Amirouche
keywords: Algeria; Bellevalia; Muscari; chromosome number; karyotype; polyploidy