Chromosome number, genome size and heterochromatin evolution in diploid species of Ipomoea and related genera (Convolvulaceae: Convolvuloideae)

Convolvuloideae is a group of plants formed by genera with n = 15 and high stability of chromosome numbers. Despite being stable, polyploidy is the main mechanism of karyotype evolution for the group and seems to be related to speciation events. The present work aimed to comparatively analyze the karyotypes of diploid species from Convolvuloideae, with emphasis on Ipomoea, using fluorochrome banding and genome size. New counts were recorded for five species belonging to Camonea and Ipomoea, all with 2n = 30. The basic number x = 15 has been suggested for Convolvuloidae. The first genome size records are presented here for the genera Camonea, Distimake and Stictocardia, as well as for six species of Ipomoea. Genome size ranged from 1C = 0.78 pg in I. bahiensis to 1.38 pg in Distimake dissectus. Two types of heterochromatin bands were identified in Convolvuloideae, CMA+ bands were the predominant type, while DAPI+ bands were less frequent, with four banding variation described. Small genome sizes and stable chromosome numbers possibly represent evolutionarily strategies associated with adaptation and speciation in the clade, while the implications of heterochromatin variation remain unknown.