International Journal of Botany1811-97001811-9719Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/ijb.2007.147.159Astragalus L. (Fabaceae)]]>BadrAbdelfattah SharawySherif M.2200732In this study the karyotype criteria of 35 taxa representing 24 species of Egyptian Astragalus have been analyzed and their impact on the systematic delimitation of the studied species is discussed. Chromosome numbers, based on x = 8 have been found in the majority of Astragalus species in Egypt. A diploid number (2n = 16) was recorded in 22 taxa representing 17 species and polyploid numbers are recorded in six taxa representing three species. Numbers based on x = 7 were recorded in four taxa of which three counts are tetraploid with 2n = 28 representing A. annularis, A. mareoticus and A. vogelii. In addition, numbers based on x = 6 were encountered in A. trimestris (2n = 12 and 2n = 24) and A. boeticus (2n = 30). The chromosomes in the studied species of Astragalus are generally small with a mean size ranging between 0.82 and 1.59 μm. Short chromosomes were particularly found in A. vogelii (MCL = 0.82 μm) and A. boeticus (MCL = 0.87 μm), whereas longer chromosomes were scored in A. sinaicus (MCL = 1.59 μm). The karyotype in the studied taxa is mostly comprised of metacentric to submetacentric chromosomes as indicated by their mean arm ratio that ranges between 1.35 in A. vogelii and 2.03 in A. asterias. The degree of karyotype asymmetry is indicated by high values of TF% that ranges between 36.11% in A. asterias and 47.48% in A. tribuloides. The A1 value ranges between 0.40 in A. vogelii and 0.90-0.92 in samples of A. asterias. Distance trees illustrating the relationships of the studied taxa, based on the analyses of karyotype features, have been constructed using Dice and Jaccard similarity coefficients. The grouping of the examined species, in these trees, is discussed in the light of their previous systematic treatments.]]>Abou-El-Enain, M.M., H.H. El-Shazly and M.A. El-Kholy,1998Sesbania (Fabaceae).]]>6318Ali, S.I.,1961Astragalus L. from W. Pakistan and N.W. Himalayas.]]>7792Al-Nowaihi, A.S., S.F. Khalifa, A. Badr and S.M. Sharawy, 2002Astragalus L. in Egypt based on storage seed protein electrophoretic criteria.]]>2002pp: 111121Badr, A. and T.T. Elkington,1978Allium subgenus Molium.]]>1282335Badr, A. and M.A. El-Kholy,1986Plantago L.]]>52725731Badr, A. and A. Gassim,199242335Badr, A., M. Hamoud and H. El-Rabey,1996Astragalus L. (Fabaceae) and their taxonomic inferences.]]>61105111Boulos, L.,1999Vol. 1,pp: 320-336pp: 320-336Brullo, S., A. Guglielmo, P. Pavone and M.C. Terrasi,1991233946Daniel, P.F., C.D. Warren and L.F. Games,1984221601607Diaz-Lifante, Z., T. Luque and C. Santa-Barbara,19923229250Dopchiz, L., S. Comez and L. Poggio,1995Astragalus (Leguminosae).]]>60329335El-Hadidi, M.N. and A. Fayed,1995El-Shazly, H.H. and M.M. Abou-El-Enain,1999Sesbania species and their taxonomic inferences.]]>28123132Fernanades, A. and M. Queirors,19785279164Fernandez, J., H. Nava, M. Vera, M. Alvareg and T. Diaz et al.,19931124349Gazer, M.,1993Astragalus L. sect. sesamei DC. (Leguminosae).]]>169155Horjales, M.,197691318Huziwara, Y.,1962Aster.]]>49116119James, L.F.,1983Astragalus.]]>5256257Ledingham, G.F.,1960Astragalus and Oxytropis.]]>2119128Ledingham, G.F. and B.M. Rever,1963Astragalus and Oxytropis.]]>51832Ledingham, G.F. and B.M. Pepper,1973Astragalus.]]>72737Levan, A., K. Fredga and A.A. Sandberg,196452201220Liston, A.,1990Astragalus (Fabaceae).]]>375960Loeve, A. and E. Kjellqvist,19744332Maassoumi, A.A.,1987Astragalus in Iran. I. Cytotaxonomic studies on some species.]]>3117128Malallah, G.A., M. Muhammed and M. Al-Dosari,200131411418Martinez, A.P.,197423801812Panter, K.E. and W.J. Hartley,1989Astragalus lentiginosus).]]>314246Podlech, D.,1986Astragalus of the Old World and South-West Asia.]]>893743Podlech, D.,1991Astragalus L. (Leguminosae).]]>9118Podlech, D. and Z. Aytac,1998Astragalus L. sect. Disstiflori DC. (Fabaceae) from Turkey.]]>5265268Polhill, R.M.,19811981pp: 357-363pp: 357-363Rohlf, F.J.,1993Saad, S.I. and W.K. Taia,1988Astragalus L. Leguminosae in Egypt.]]>B6227243Sharawy, S.M.,2001Astragalus in Egypt.]]>2001Sharawy, S.M., M.M. Mourad and A.S. Al-Nowaihi,2003Astragalus taxa growing in Egypt.]]>32325346Sokal, R.R. and C.D. Michener,19583814091438Towensend, C.E.,1981Cicer Milkvetch for improved forage yield.]]>21362366Zarco, C.R.,198635526530