Karyological Investigation on Seven Centaurea L. (Asteraceae) Taxa from Turkey

The somatic chromosome numbers and karyotypes were examined in seven species of genus Centaurea L. distributed in Turkey. The chromosome numbers were determined as 2n=2x=16 in C. behen L. and C. solstitialis L.; 2n=2x=18 in C. cynarocephala Wagenitz and C. agregata Fisch. & Mey. ex DC. ssp. agregata; 2n=2x=20 in C. iberica Trev. ex Sprengel; 2n=2x=26 in C. balsamita Lam.; 2n=4x=36 in C. virgata Lam. All of the chromosomes had centromeres at median point (M), median region (m), and submedian region (sm). Satellite chromosomes (sat-chromosomes) were observed only in C. virgata. The findings for each of the analyzed taxa are compared each other and with the results of previous studies.