Chromosome studies in Brazilian species of Campomanesia Ruiz & Pávon and Psidium L. (Myrtaceae Juss.)

Abstract

In this work, we carried out chromosome counts of four species of Campomanesia (C. adamantium, C. guaviroba, C. phaea and C. pubescens) and four of Psidum (P. acutangulum, P. cattleyanum, P. cinereum and P. guajava) from different populations. In Campomanesia, 2n=22 was found in all of the species analyzed, and no polyploidy was seen. For Psidium, only P. guajava had 2n=22 and another three species had 2n=44. No abnormalities in meiosis were observed. High levels of pollen stainability(> 80%) was seen in all species. About 50% of Myrtinae species were polyploid, indicating the importance of polyploidy in the evolution of this group.