Abstract

The genome of Sophora toromiro (Phil.) Skottsb. (Papilionaceae) is characterised by means of chromosome counts of accessions called Viña del Mar Botanical Garden (JBV), Göteborg (Got) and Titze. Karyotypes were obtained and genome size quantified using flow cytometry and compared to the closely related species Sophora macrocarpa J.E.Sm. and Sophora cassioides (Phil.) Sparre. No differences were detected in chromosome number of Sophora at intra-specific or inter-specific levels with 2n = 2x = 18. Analyses on the symmetry coefficients CVcl and Mca shows affinity between the analysed material of the Titze line. The graph clearly indicates differences between S. toromiro lines if compared with S. cassioides and S. macrocarpa. Genome size range from 788 Mbp for S. cassioides, 795 Mbp for S. macrocarpa and a range of 796–808 Mbp in S. toromiro. This is the first report of chromosome number and genome size for S. toromiro, S. macrocarpa and S. cassioides. This is of particular importance in S. toromiro, as it is has been considered extinct in its natural habitat for the past 50 years.