Karyology of Nine Lily Genotypes

Chromosome morphology was studied in lily genotypes L. candidum, L. × formolongi, L. henryi and L. pumilum, and cultivars ‘Alma Ata,’ ‘Expression,’ ‘Marco Polo,’ ‘Muscadet’ and ‘Star Gazer’ belonging to the horticultural group Oriental hybrids. All genotypes tested represented 2n = 2x = 24 chromosomes. Chromosomal markers were established after Feulgen and silver staining, from analysis of the chromosome length and position of the primary and secondary constrictions. For each chromosome the arm index was calculated. Based on these data, idiograms were drawn. For the genotypes analyzed the markers were the secondary constrictions, as confirmed by silver staining. Chromosome length can be used as a marker in only a few cases. From 4 to 10 chromosomes could be identified using secondary constrictions as markers, depending on the genotype. Markers are proposed for each possible species × cultivar and cultivar × species combination.