Karyotypic Variation and Karyomorphology in Iranian Endemic Ecotypes of Plantago ovata Forsk.

Isabgol is an annual herb cultivated as a medicinal plant. In the present study, karyotypic analysis of 12 Iranian endemic Isabgol (Plantago ovata Forsk.) ecotypes was carried out. The chromosome number was 2n=2x=8 with 4m+4st karyotype formula. The mean value of total chromosome length (TL) was 2.86 mu m, ranging from 2.44 mu m (E4) to 3.26 mu m (E12). All ecotypes had 2 pairs of satellites (3S, 4S), varying in size from 0.34 to 0.36 mu m. Most of the chromosomal parameters were significantly different among the various ecotypes. In general, karyotypes were symmetrical and fell in the Stebbins 2A category. The scatter diagram of A1 and A2 asymmetry indicated 4 groups of ecotypes while PCA analysis together with cluster analysis and scatter diagram of TL and CI, showed 3 groups, containing 9, 2 and 1 ecotypes, respectively. C-Banding patterns and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with 45S rDNA probe provided landmarks for chromosome identification in somatic preparations.