Intraspecific karyomorphological and genome size variations of in vitro embryo derived Iranian endemic Asafoetida (Ferula assa-foetida L., Apiaceae)

Asafoetida (Ferula assa-foetida L.) is one of the endemic medicinal plants in Iran. Analysis karyomorphology and 2Cx DNA measurements (monoploid genome size) 18 Iranian Ferula populations were performed. The vitro embryo-derived root tips examined for karyological studies, via technique squash stain with 2% (w/v) aceto-orcein. Seeds samples leaves Solanum lycopersicum as standard reference (2C = 1.96 pg) stained propidium iodide (PI), using flow cytometric (FCM) technique. All studied diploids (2n 2x 22) mean chromosome length (CL) 3.95 μm, varied from 3.05 μm (P7) to 4.94 (P18). total volume (TCV) was 0.98 μm3, ranged 0.47 μm3 1.57 (P3). Two-typed chromosomes (“m”, “sm”) formed three classes karyotype formula. Karyotypes mostly symmetrical fell 1A 2A Stebbins category. monoploid size being stated first time; its value 4.51 pg, 4.09 (P4) 4.69 pg (P16). Intraspecific karyomorphological variations clearly confirmed assa-foetida.