Abstract:

Four different types and colors of Gazania varieties were chosen to chromosomes karyotype analysis. The results showed that：(1) The number of somatic chromosomes of G. rigens varieties ‘Hongwen’，‘Xingbai’and‘Richu’were 2n = 10，‘Zhongguo Xunzhangju’was 2n = 20. It is speculated that the cardinal number of chromosomes in G. rigens plants was x = 5，while the‘Zhongguo Xunzhangju’was tetraploid. (2) The karyotype formulae of‘Hongwen’，‘Xingbai’and‘Richu’respectively were 2n = 8m + 2sm，2n = 8m + 2sm and 2n = 10m. The karyotype formula of‘Zhongguo Xunzhangju’was 2n = 18m + 2sm. (3) The asymmetrical karyotype coefficient of four G. rigens varieties were 53.80%–58.84%. Except the karyotype type of‘Richu’was“1A”，the three remaining species were“2A”，and the karyotypes were relatively symmetric. (4) The results of karyotype analysis showed that three introduced species had a near genetic relationship.

Key words: Gazania rigens, chromosome, karyotype analysis