Cytogenetic study and evolution situation of species Bracteatum and Somniferum from genus Papaver

Among the several species belong to the genus Papaver, P. bracteatum with abundant thebain and P. somniferum with a variety of alkaloids have special pharmacological importance. In the current investigation, properties and symmetrical karyotypes of the two species were studied. Results revealed that both species are diploid but the basic chromosome number varied between two species. The basic chromosome number in P. bracteatum was X =7, while it was X=11 in P. somniferum. P. bracteatum and P. somniferum were placed on 3A and 3B class based on Stebbin’s asymmetry categories, respectively. The results of the current study demonstrated that P. somniferum is evolutionary advanced comparing with P. bracteatum.