Cytogenetics of Cheniella (Leguminosae: Cercidoideae) from China and Vietnam

Authors

  • Shi-Ran Gu State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, 510650, China https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4504-0500
  • Hong-Yan Li State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, 510650, China
  • Xiang-Xu Huang
  • Hong Yang State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, 510650, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
  • Xia Peng State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, 510650, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
  • Zhu-Qiu Song State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, 510650, China
  • Lei Duan State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, 510650, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
  • Miao-Miao Shi State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, 510650, China https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3285-4065
  • Xiang-Ping Wang State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, 510650, China https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0645-6370
  • Zhong-Tao Zhao State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, 510650, China https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7733-9542
  • Shi-Jin Li State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, 510650, China https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6596-5124
  • Tie-Yao Tu State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, 510650, China https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7385-008X
  • Dian-Xiang Zhang State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, 510650, China https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6549-8872

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36253/caryologia-3052

Keywords:

Bauhinia s.l., Chromosome counts, Cytology, Fabaceae, Phanera, Southeast Asia

Abstract

The cytogenetics of Cheniella, a recently segregated genus of the early-diverging subfamily Cercidoideae of Leguminosae, remain understudied, hindering our understanding of the cytological evolution and the utilization of this important plant group. Here we conducted comparative cytogenetic studies on 11 species and one subspecies of Cheniella and one species of its sister genus Phanera. Unlike earlier reports which recovered 2n=28 for two Cheniella species, we consistently observed chromosome counts of 2n=26 for all 11 species of Cheniella, supporting the segregation of Cheniella from Phanera, which consistently exhibited 2n=28 in this and previous studies. Our analyses, along with previous cytogenetic data, indicates that 2n=14, 2n=26 and 2n=28 are the predominant chromosome numbers in the basal-most genus Cercis, Cheniella and the remainder genera, respectively. The ancestor of the subfamily is most probably a diploid with 2n=14, with subsequent polyploidization followed by chromosome reduction events leading to 2n=28 and 2n=26 in the other lineages. Our results provide new insight into the cytotaxonomy and chromosome evolution of Cercidoideae, also lay the foundation for future genomics research.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Atchison E. 1951. Studies in Leguminosae. VI. Chromosome numbers among tropical woody species. American Journal of Botany. 38:538–546.

Basumatari M, Das BN. 2017. Karyomorphological studies in two species of Bauhinia Linn. and induction of polyploidy in Bauhinia acuminata Linn. The International Journal of Life-Sciences Scientific Research. 3:1223–1229.

Biondo E, Miotto STS, Schifino-Wittmann MT. 2005. Chromosome numbers and systematic implications in species of subfamily Caesalpinioideae (Leguminosae) from the Southern region of Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Botânica. 28(4):797–808.

Bir SS, Kumari S. 1979. Cytological evolution of the leguminous flora of the Punjab plain. Recent Research of Plant Science. 7:252–260.

Blackwell WH. 1990. An explanation for the discrepancy in the chromosome count of the redbud (Cercis canadensis, Leguminosae). Sida. 14(1):7–11.

Cannon SB, McKain MR, Harkess A, Nelson MN, Dash S, Deyholos MK, Peng YH, Joyce B, Stewart CN, Rolf M, Kutchan T, Tan XM, Chen C, Zhang Y, Carpenter E, Wong GK, Doyle JJ, Leebens-Mack J. 2015. Multiple polyploidy events in the early radiation of nodulating and nonnodulating legumes. Molecular Biology and Evolution. 32(1):193–210.

Chen RY, Song WQ, Li XL, Li MX, Liang GL, Chen CB. 2003. Chromosome atlas of major economic plants genome in China, Vol. 3, chromosome atlas of garden flowering plants in China. Science Press, Beijing.

Chen ZY, Chen TC, Huang XX. 1991. Chromosome counts on the Chinese Leguminosae. Acta Botanica Austro Sinica. 7:26–39.

Clark RP, Mackinder BA, Banks H. 2017. Cheniella gen. nov. (Leguminosae: Cercidoideae) from southern China, Indochina and Malesia. European Journal of Taxonomy. 360:1–37.

Curtis WF. 1976. Chromosome counts in Grielum and Cercis. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. 63:379–380.

Darlington CD, Wylie AP. 1955. Chromosome atlas of flowering plants. George Allen and Unwin Ltd., London.

Doyle JJ. 2012. Polyploidy in Legumes. In: Soltis P, Soltis D (eds.), Polyploidy and genome evolution. Springer, Berlin:147–180.

Fedorov ANA. 1974. Chromosome numbers of flowering plants. Otto Koettz Science Publishers, Königstein.

Fernandes A, Santos MF, Fatima H. 1975. Contribution à la connaissance cytotaxinomique des Spermatophyta du Portugal. IV. Leguminosae (Suppl. 1). Boletim da Sociedade Broteriana, sér. 2. 49:173–196.

Gill LS, Husaini SW. 1982. Cytology of some arborescent Leguminosae of Nigeria. Silvae Genetica. 31:117–122.

Gill LS, Husaini SW. 1986. Cytological observations in Leguminosae from southern Nigeria. Willdenowia. 15:521–527.

Goldblatt P. 1981. Chromosome numbers in Legumes II. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. 68:551–557.

Gu SR, Lai Q, Zeng QB, Tu TY, Zhang DX. 2019. The complete plastid genome of Hong Kong Orchid Tree, Bauhinia × blakeana Dunn (Leguminosae). Mitochondrial DNA Part B. 4(2):3454–3455.

Gu SR, Zeng QB, Clark RP, Jiang KW, Pérez-Escobar OA, Li SJ, Tan WN, Xie Z, Mattapha S, Shi MM, Wang XP, Zhao ZT, Antonelli A, Tu TY, Wen J, Zhang DX. 2024. Phylogeny and re-circumscription of Cheniella (Leguminosae: Cercidoideae) based on plastome data and morphology, with description of three new species. Taxon. 73(2):475–502.

Hao G, Zhang DX, Zhang M, Guo LX, Li SJ. 2003. Phylogenetics of Bauhinia subgenus Phanera (Leguminosae: Caesalpinioideae) based on ITS sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA. Botanical Bulletin of Academia Sinica. 44:223–228.

Hill LM. 1989. IOPB chromosome data 1. International Organization of Plant Biosystematists. Newsletter. 13:17–19.

Kumar S, Bir SS. 1989. Karyomorphological evolution in Caesalpiniaceae. Journal of Cytology and Genetics. 24:149–163.

Kumar V, Subramaniam B. 1987. Chromosome atlas of flowering plants of the Indian subcontinent. Vol. I. Dicotyledons. Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata.

Kuzmanov BA. 1975. In IOPB chromosome number reports XLIX. Taxon. 24:501–516.

Lewis G, & Forest F. 2005. Cercideae. Pp. 57–67 in: Lewis G, Schrire B, Mackinder B, & Lock M (eds.), Legumes of the World. Richmond: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Li JL, Shen JT, Wang R, Chen YM, Zhang TK, Wang HF, Guo CC, Qi J. 2023. The nearly complete assembly of the Cercis chinensis genome and Fabaceae phylogenomic studies provide insights into new gene evolution. Plant Communications. 4:100422.

LPWG. 2017. A new subfamily classification of the Leguminosae based on a taxonomically comprehensive phylogeny: The Legume Phylogeny Working Group (LPWG). Taxon. 66(1):44–77.

Lu Y, Chen X, Yu H, Zhang C, Xue Y, Zhang Q, Wang H. 2024. Haplotype-resolved genome assembly of Phanera championii reveals molecular mechanisms of flavonoid synthesis and adaptive evolution. The Plant Journal. 118:488–505.

Paiva J, Leitao MT. 1989. Números cromossómicos para alguns taxa da Africa tropical – II. Boletim da Sociedade Broteriana, sér. 2. 62:117–130.

Peng CI, Yen SF, Guo JY. 1986. Notes on the chromosome cytology of some rare, threatened, or endangered plants of Taiwan (I). Botanical Bulletin of Academia Sinica. 27:219–235.

Peng X, Jiang KW, Fang TS, Gu QY, Gu SR, Xie Z, Duan L, Li SJ, Wang XP, Shi MM, Tu TY, Zhang DX. 2024. Cheniella tsoongii (Leguminosae: Cercidoideae), a rare, critically endangered new species from southern China. Phytotaxa. 646 (2):193–202.

Rani S, Kumar S, Jeelani SM, Kaur K, Kumari S, Gupta RC. 2013. Meiotic studies in some members of Caesalpiniaceae R. Br. from the western Himalayas (India). Cytologia. 78:383–390.

Roberts DJ, Werner DJ. 2016. Genome size and ploidy levels of Cercis (Redbud) species, cultivars, and botanical varieties. HortScience. 51(4):330–333.

Sandhu PS, Mann SK. 1988. SOCGI plant chromosome number reports VII. Journal of Cytology and Genetics. 23:219–228.

Sarkar AK, Datta N, Chatterjee U, Hazra D. 1982. In IOPB chromosome number reports LXXVI. Taxon. 31:576–579.

Sharma AK, Raju D. 1968. Structure and behaviour of chromosomes in Bauhinia and allied genera. Cytologia. 33:411–426.

Sinha KN, Singh T. 2013a. Investigation of Bauhinia blakeana Dunn. a hybrid species. Bioscience Discovery. 4(1):20–24.

Sinha KN, Singh T. 2013b. Cytological diversity and seed storage protein profiling of most potent Bauhinia species. IOSR Journal of Pharmacy and Biological Sciences. 7:71–75.

Singhal VK, Gill BS, Bir SS. 1980a. In Chromosome number reports LXVII. Taxon. 29:355–357.

Singhal VK, Gill BS, Bir SS. 1980b. In Chromosome number reports LXIX. Taxon. 29:712–713.

Singhal VK, Gill BS, Sidhu MS. 1990. Cytological explorations of Indian woody legumes. Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Sciences: Plant Sciences. 100:319–331.

Sinou C, Cardinal-McTeague W, Bruneau A. 2020. Testing generic limits in Cercidoideae (Leguminosae): Insights from plastid and duplicated nuclear gene sequences. Taxon. 69(1):67–86.

Souza MGC, Benko-Iseppon AM. 2004. Cytogenetics and chromosome banding patterns in Caesalpinioideae and Papilionioideae species of Pará, Amazonas, Brazil. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 144:181–191.

Stai JS, Yadav A, Sinou C, Bruneau A, Doyle JJ, Fernández-Baca D, Cannon SB. 2019. Cercis: A non-polyploid genomic relic within the generally polyploid legume family. Frontiers in Plant Science. 10:345.

Tanaka R. 1971. Types of resting nuclei in Orchidaceae. Botanical Magazine. 84: 118–122.

Tanaka R. 1977. Recent karyotype studies. In: Ogawa K, Koike S, Kurosumi I, Sato M (eds.), Plant cytology. Tokyo: Asakura, 293–326.

Turner BL. 1956. Chromosome numbers in the Leguminosae. American Journal of Botany. 43:577–582.

Wunderlin RP. 1976. Enumeration and typification of genera in tribe Cercideae. Rhodora. 78:750–760.

Yeh MS, Yuasa H, Maekawa F. 1986. Chromosome numbers in the Leguminosae. Science Reports of the Research Institutes of Evolution and Biology. 3:57–71.

Zhong Y, Chen Y, Zheng DJ, Pang JY, Liu Y, Luo SK, Meng SY, Qian L, Wei D, Dai SP, Zhou RC. 2022. Chromosomal-level genome assembly of the orchid tree Bauhinia variegata (Leguminosae; Cercidoideae) supports the allotetraploid origin hypothesis of Bauhinia. DNA Research. 29:dsac012.

Downloads

Published

2025-07-15

How to Cite

Gu, S.-R., Li, H.-Y., Huang, X.-X., Yang, H., Peng, X., Song, Z.-Q., Duan, L., Shi, M.-M., Wang, X.-P., Zhao, Z.-T., Li, S.-J., Tu, T.-Y., & Zhang, D.-X. (2025). Cytogenetics of Cheniella (Leguminosae: Cercidoideae) from China and Vietnam. Caryologia, 77(4), 13–23. https://doi.org/10.36253/caryologia-3052

Issue

Vol. 77 No. 4 (2024)

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2024 Shi-Ran Gu, Hong-Yan Li, Xiang-Xu Huang, Hong Yang, Xia Peng, Zhu-Qiu Song, Lei Duan, Miao-Miao Shi, Xiang-Ping Wang, Zhong-Tao Zhao, Shi-Jin Li, Tie-Yao Tu, Dian-Xiang Zhang

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

  • Copyright on any open access article in a journal published byCaryologia is retained by the author(s).
  • Authors grant Caryologia a license to publish the article and identify itself as the original publisher.
  • Authors also grant any third party the right to use the article freely as long as its integrity is maintained and its original authors, citation details and publisher are identified.
  • The Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 formalizes these and other terms and conditions of publishing articles.
  • In accordance with our Open Data policy, the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication waiver applies to all published data in Caryologia open access articles.