İlker Genç

Silene Dumanii (Caryophyllaceae), a New Species from East Anatolia, Turkey

Silene dumanii Kandemir, G. Ecevit Genç & İ. Genç sp. nova (Caryophyllaceae) from East Anatolia (Turkey) is described and illustrated. Diagnostic characters, detailed illustrations and taxonomic comments on the species as well as its geographical distribution are given.

A karyomorphological study of the genus Allium (sect. Melanocrommyum) from Turkey

This paper reports mitotic chromosome numbers of 19 taxa of Allium L. sect. Melanocrommyum Webb et Berthel. from Turkey. Karyotypes of 18 species of Allium sect. Melanocrommyum were diploid with 2n = 16, only A. cyrilli Ten. was tetraploid with 2n = 32. This study includes first reports for 11 Allium species (A. elmaliense İ. G. Deniz et Sümbül, A. lycaonicum Siehe ex Hayek, A. asclepiadeum Bornm., A. nemrutdaghense Kit Tan & Sorger, A. colchicifolium Boiss., A. shatakiense Rech. fil., A. woronowii Miscz., A. nabelekii Kamelin et Seisums, A. stenopetalum Boiss. et Kotschy, A. noëanum Reuter ex Regel, A. tubergenii Freyn). The chromosome count of A. orientale, collected from Turkey, is also reported for the first time in this study. Four accessions (A. nemrutdaghense, A. colchicifolium, A. chrysantherum, and A. cardiostemon) have B-chromosomes. Seven parameters for analyzing karyotype asymmetry were assessed and karyotypic ideograms of 19 taxa of Allium (sect. Melanocrommyum) are given. Microphotographs of somatic metaphases are also provided. All karyotypes are symmetrical, consisting of metacentric and submetacentric chromosome pairs. Only A. nabelekii and A. tubergenii have subtelocentric chromosomes. Karyotype analysis according to Stebbins categories placed chromosomes of studied taxa in symmetric class of 2A, indicating a symmetric karyotype. Only A. noëanum was classified in group 2B. Analysis of karyotype formulae showed that, in general, species of sect. Melanocrommyum form a homogeneous group.

Taxonomic data supporting differences between Allium elmaliense and Allium cyrilli

The first specimens of Allium elmaliense were collected in Elmal? (Antalya/Turkey) in 2001 and were described as new species in 2004. However, Allium elmaliense was claimed as synonym of Allium cyrilli in 2006. This study was undertaken to reveal the differences between these taxa utilizing morphological, palynological, and chromosome characters and genomic differences based on the DNA analyses along with the ecological preference studies conducted during 2006 and 2011. The results clearly indicated differences between these two taxa in terms of morphological characters, pollen, seed surfaces and niche preferences. Chromosome morphology and Td-DAMD-PCR fingerprinting studies revealed that Allium elmaliense Deniz & Sümbül is a distinct species and not a synonym of A. cyrilli Ten.

Allium serpentinicum and A. kandemirii (Alliaceae), Two New Species from East Anatolia, Turkey

Allium serpentinicum İ. Genç & N. Özhatay and A. kandemirii İ Genç & N. Özhatay (sect. Melanocrommyum) are described and illustrated as new species from East Anatolia, Turkey. The morphological characters of these taxa are discussed and the distributions of the taxa are mapped. The diploid chromosome numbers are: A. serpentinicum 2n = 16, 32; A. kandemirii 2n = 16.

Karyological studies of six taxa of the genus Allium L. (Amaryllidaceae) from Turkey

Abstract Karyotype structures in representative taxa of the genus Allium L. are compared, based on Feulgen-stained somatic metaphase chromosomes. The karyotypes of Allium arlgirdense, A. anacoleum and A. microspathum (in subg. Allium), and A. rhetoreanum and A. shirnakense (in subg. Melanocrommyum) are described for the first time. The karyological analyses indicate the relationships among the species with respect to asymmetry indices. All Allium taxa studied are diploid with 2n = 2x = 16 chromosomes. One B chromosome is detected in the chromosomes of A. microspathum. All chromosome sets of the studied taxa consist of seven median chromosomes and one submedian chromosomes and all submetacentric pairs bear a satellite on the short arms. The lengths of the chromosomes show remarkable differences particularly at the subgenus level. The three subgenus of genus Allium show a clear tendency to have karyotypes distinct on asymmetry grounds. Karyotype asymmetry relationships are discussed according to the bidimensional scatter plots of A1–A2 and CVCL–MCA.

Karyomorphology and nuclear DNA content of sixteen Ophrys L. taxa from Turkey

Abstract Karyotypes in 16 representative taxa of the Ophrys genus are compared, based on Feulgen-stained somatic metaphase chromosomes. The karyotypes of O. omegaifera subsp. israelitica, O. ulupinara, O. lycia, O. argolica subsp. lucis, O. argolica subsp. lesbis, O. climacis and O. reinholdii subsp. reinholdii are described for the first time. Karyological analyses indicate relationships among the species with respect to their asymmetry indices. All Ophrys taxa studied were diploid with 2n = 2x = 36 chromosomes. One B chromosome has been detected among the chromosomes of O. argolica subsp. lucis. All karyotypes are symmetrical, consisting of metacentric and submetacentric chromosomes. The longest chromosomes of all the investigated specimens contain a secondary constriction. It is determined that there is a correlation between the total number of chromosomes having secondary constrictions and the evolutionary development order of the taxa. Based on nuclear DNA content, analysis was carried out by flow cytometer using propodium iodide as fluorochrome, 2C nuclear DNA content of 16 Ophrys species varying between 20.80 pg (O. argolica subsp. lucis) and 23.11 pg (O. omegaifera subsp. israelitica). Karyotype asymmetry relationships are discussed according to the bidimensional scatter plots of A1–A2, CVCL–CVCI, CVCL–MCA and CVCI–MCA.

A new species of Dianthus (Caryophyllaceae) from Antalya, South Anatolia, Turkey.

Abstract Dianthus multiflorus from Gazipaşa (Antalya), south Anatolia (Turkey), is described as a new annual species with verrucose calyx. The morphological differences from the species within the same group with Dianthus multiflorus, which are Dianthus aydogdui, Dianthus cyri and Dianthus tripunctatus, are discussed. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) threat category and observations on the ecology of the populations are noted. The karyology and seed micromorphology of Dianthus multiflorus and Dianthus tripunctatus were examined by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.