Karyotype analysis of a pollinator, and a non-pollinator, of Ficus auriculata Loureiro
Author of the article:WU Shi-Bo；LIU Qing；YANG Pei；YANG Da-Rong；PENG Yan-Qiong
Author's Workplace： Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Department of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Baoshan College, Baoshan 678000, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory for Wild Plant Resources, Department of Economic Plants and Biotechnology, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
Key Words：Ficus auriculata; Ceratosolen emarginatus; Platyneura sp.; karyotype
Abstract：[Objectives] In order to investigate the chromosomal karyotypes of two fig wasps, Ceratosolen emarginatus Mayr, a pollinator of Ficus auriculata Loureiro, and a non-pollinating fig wasp Platyneura sp.. [Methods] The karyotype analysis of these species was performed using calf blood serum to culture cerebral ganglia of each species after dissection. [Results] Chromosomes of both wasps were metacentric and their karyotypes were Stebbins-1A. Some differences between the two species were apparent, for example, the diploid chromosome numbers of C. emarginatus and Platyneura sp.were 2n(♀)= 10 and 2n(♀)= 12, respectively, and the corresponding arm numbers (NF) were 20 and 24. [Conclusion] Although the two species share the same chromosome type and karyotype, they differ in some other chromosome features. Taking into consideration the results of previous studies, it is possible that the karyotype of these two fig wasps may have evolved from pollinator to non-pollinator, i.e. that the number of chromosomes increased rather than decreased.