Chromosomal morphometry of Catasetum saccatum Lindl. x Catasetum saccatum mutant
Key words: Orchidaceae; Deletion; Southern Amazon
The genus Catasetum is formed by the species that belong to the Cymbidieae group, many of these species are terrestrial, the genus is the one that most arouses interest in botanists, due to its admirable adaptation and the trimorphism in its flowers. Studies related to the chromosome number for this genus point to a large chromosomal variation, directing hybridization as one of the responsible for the increase in diversity, a fact that can be commonly used to seek characteristics considered to be of greater acceptance. Therefore, this work aims to perform the chromosomal characterization of Catasetum saccatum x Catasetum saccatum mutant, from the analysis of chromosomal morphometry to contribute to botanical, evolutionary and genetic improvement studies. The cariological variability of these plants generates results that may present possible differences between the species based on the chromosomes. The study was carried out at the Laboratory of Cytogenetics and Plant Tissue Culture of the University of the State of Mato Grosso “Carlos Alberto Reyes Maldonado” (UNEMAT) Campus of Alta Floresta - MT, using explants of Catasetum saccatum x Catasetum saccatum mutante cultivated in the Alta Floresta Orquidário. Florestense of the same unit. For cell blockage, root meristems were blocked in 3 μM amiprophos-methyl (APM) for 15 hours, then the roots were fixed in methanol:acetic acid (3:1) solution. To prepare the slides, the treated meristems were washed to remove excess blocker, after which the roots were exposed to enzymatic digestion composed of three enzymes in a water bath at 36°C, for 1:30 hours, for later staining of the slides. slides were stained with 5% Giemsa solution (Merck KGaA). Observations were performed using a Microscope, and measured using the MicroMeasure program version 3.3 (MM). In view of the chromosomal morphometric analysis, we observed that the C. saccatum species has a total of 54 chromosomes, and the mutant C. saccatum species, in addition to the characteristics visibly observed in the flowers, has a chromosomal deletion in pair 2, with the loss of the satellite in one of the chromosomes, causing the appearance of 3 male structures in the plant. Thus, classical cytogenetics is extremely necessary in the analysis of mutations occurring in species.