Nuclear DNA content in the Australian Bulbine (Liliaceae)

Abstract

Nuclear DNA measurements for 17 Australian populations of Bulbine support the recognition of the four major groups already suggested by chromosome studies. Within the perennial group, Bulbine bulbosa s. lat., the tuberless, 46-chromosome (hypo-8x) "rock lily" has a similar DNA content to the hypo-4x, 24-chromosome populations of the "bulbosa" complex, which has populations at hypo-4x, -8x, and -12x levels. The "rock lily" also has substantially less DNA than another 46-chromosome entity, represented by the Kroombit population. Within the annual group, Bulbine semibarbata s. lat., the distinctions are less clear. However, the winged-seeded, 4x, 28-chromosome "alata" appears to have slightly more DNA than the closely related 26-chromosome "semibarbata." The 54-chromosome, 8x annual populations of eastern Australia have a DNA amount consistent with their proposed allopolyploid origin. The 52-chromosome "semibarbata" populations of Western Australia have, as expected, a lower DNA content than the 54-chromosome form and approximately twice the 4x "semibarbata" amount. It is suggested that some observed clinal variation in DNA content and an apparent DNA deficit in some of the higher polyploids of both perennial and annual groups may be attributable to climatic trends since the Miocene. Key words: Liliaceae, Bulbine, DNA content, polyploids, genome evolution.