DNA QUANTIFICATION OF SIX SPECIES FROM CATASETUM GENRE (ORCHIDACEAE)
Cytometry flow; Ochidaceae, Genetic Improvement
The genus Catasetum belongs to the Orchidaceae family, which has approximately 300 species distributed throughout the Brazilian territory, which have been gradually destroyed by human anthropic action. The knowledge of the plant genome is of great importance for the characterization of the germplasm, and is essential for genetic improvement works, when crosses are programmed. And, being an integral part of cytogenetics, it has its fundamental contribution in evolutionary and taxonomic studies. In view of the above, the present study aimed to quantify the DNA by flow cytometry of the species mentioned above to generate results that can provide support to characterize the genus and that assist in research related to genetic improvement. The species C. atratum Lindl., C. albovirens Barb.Rodr., C. joaquinianum Campacci & G.F.Carr., C. hopkinsonianum G.F.Carr & V.P.Castro., C. discolor Lindl., C. rooseveltianum Hoehne. For cytometric analysis, young leaves of plants grown in the Altaflorestense nursery were used. Based on the data obtained through flow cytometry we can infer that the DNA content diverged for all species of Catasetuns studied, however Catasetum discolor was the one with the highest value of 9.711pg and Catasetum rooseveltinianum was the one with the lowest value of 6.063pg.