Genome size variation in the Artemisia arborescens complex (Asteraceae, Anthemideae) and its cultivars

Abstract

Different wild Mediterranean populations of Artemisia arborescens from diverse locations, representing its geographical distribution, as well as some of its well-known cultivars and some specimens cultivated as omamentals in gardens, streets, roads and nurseries, were analysed for genome size estimation. Other closely related species endemic to Macaronesia, A. canariensis, A. argentea and A. gorgonum, were also measured, and their nuclear DNA amount has been related to the biogeography of this group of species. Additionally, five populations of the closely related A. absinthium were analysed to establish comparisons. Measurements, acquired by flow cytometry, ranged from 8.29 pg to 11.61 pg for 2C values. Statistically significant differences of nuclear DNA amounts with respect to factors such as insularity or domestication have been detected. However, a quite low intraspecific genome size variation has been detected in these species. Furthermore, the study also addressed the possible hybrid origins, and possible misidentifications of some of the supposed cultivars ofA. arborescens..

Chemical Composition and Antibacterial Potential of Artemisia arborescens L. Essential Oil

“…The studies carried out on this species were mainly concerned about its phytochemical characteristics [1,29,30,32,33,39], but other aspects have been also considered, such as its genomics [19], its antiviral [43], antioxidant [11], anti-mycoplasmal [3] and allelochemical properties [14]. However, to our knowledge, no studies have been carried out on the antibacterial properties of EOs of this species.…”

Genome size estimates for nine species ofGageaSalisb. (Liliaceae) from the Mediterranean region

“…For larger genomes, the propidium iodide concentration was raised to 100 μg ml −1 . Two calibration standards, differing in DNA amount, were used: Artemisia arborescens L. (origin Crete, 2C = 11.43 pg, Garcia et al 2006) for the majority of samples and Pisum sativum L. 'Long Express' (2C = 8.37 pg, Marie and Brown 1993) for just one accession. The nuclei were isolated by chopping together leaf of the sample and the internal standard using a razor blade in plastic Petri dishes containing 800 ml of Galbraith's nuclear isolation buffer (Galbraith et al 1983) which was supplemented with 10 mM sodium metabisulphite and 1% polyvinylpyrrolidone 10,000 M r .…”

Polyploidy and other changes at chromosomal level and in genome size: Its role in systematics and evolution exemplified by some genera of Anthemideae and Cardueae (Asteraceae)

“…Evolutionary changes resulting from artificial selection and domestication may also be found in genome size. This might be the case in the A. arborescens L. group, in which wild, cultivated and domesticated populations show significantly different nuclear DNA contents (Garcia & al., 2006b).…”

“…Genome size can be evaluated in relation to geographical expansion processes, which may be particularly interesting in island colonisations. At the specific level, this has been studied in the above-mentioned A. arborescens, where the insular populations of this Mediterranean taxon have significantly higher nuclear DNA amounts than the continental ones (Garcia & al., 2006b), and in A. crithmifolia L., very abundant along the European Atlantic coast from the southern Iberian peninsula to the Netherlands, with only two populations in the British Isles. These insular populations also have higher genome sizes than continental ones .…”