Cytogenetic study of Plantago major populations in North West of Iran

Plantago genus of Plantaginaceae family has 22 annual and perennial herbaceous species in Iran. Plantago major is one of common plants in wetlands. Chromosomal characteristics of seven populations of Plantago majorL. were studied. Seeds were collected from habitats of the species in NW of Iran. The seeds were grown in petri dishes. Root tip meristems were stained with Hematoxilin. Chromosome number of five populations was 2n= 12 and in two other populations was 2n=24. Base Chromosome number of the species was x=6. In studied populations, Karyotype formula had metacentric and submetacentric chromosomes. Chromosome size of the species varied between 1.25 to 2.87 µm. Ideogram of each population was made and karyotypic characteristics including chromosome number, long and short arm length, and arm ratio indices were also estimated. The species had symmetrical karyotype in all of the examined populations; According to Stebbins classification, six of the studied populations located in 1A class and one of the populations located in 2A class.