Chromosomal Variation and Cytogenetics of Plebeia lucii and P. phrynostoma (Hymenoptera: Apidae)
Keywords:
Meliponini, karyotype, C-banding, fluorochrome, chromosomal polymorphismAbstract
Plebeia (Hymenoptera: Apidae) is a poorly defined genus and its classification and systematic are controversial. Tools such as cytogenetics may contribute to clarify the relationships among the species. The aim of this study was to characterize the karyotypes of the species Plebeia lucii Moure, 2004 and Plebeia phrynostoma Moure, 2004. For this purpose conventional staining, C-banding and fluorochrome techniques were performed. The same chromosome number (2n = 34) was observed for both species. The karyotypic formula of P. lucii was 2K = 22 AM + 12A. A heteromorphic pair was observed with euchromatic and heterochromatic regions of different sizes on the 2 homologs. The presence of a secondary constriction was observed in this same pair. In P. phrynostoma the karyotypic formula was 2K = 18AM + 10A + 6M and did not show polymorphisms or secondary constrictions. The DAPI fluorochrome marked portions of the heterochromatic arm and the regions close to the centromere in some chromosomes of both species. CMA3 marked the heteromorphic pair in P. lucii and some points in other chromosomes, while it stained 2 pairs of chromosomes in P. phrynostoma. Despite the similarity in chromosome number, these species show variation both in morphology and in composition of chromatin which may reflect a phylogenetic position in different clades.
O genero Plebeia nao e um grupo taxonomico bem definido e apresenta problemas quanto a sua classificacao e sistematica. As ferramentas citogeneticas podem auxiliar no esclarecimento das relacoes entre as especies deste genero. O principal objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar o cariotipo das especies de Plebeia lucii Moure, 2004 e Plebeia phrynostoma Moure, 2004. Para isso foram usadas tecnicas de coloracao convencional, bandeamento C e fluorocromos. O mesmo numero cromossomico (2n = 34) foi observado em ambas especies. A formula cariotipica de Plebeia lucii foi 2K = 22AM + 12A. Foi observado um par heteromorfico com as regioes eucromaticas e heterocromaticas localizadas em diferentes porcoes dos dois homologos. A presenca de uma constricao secundaria tambem foi observada neste mesmo par. Em Plebeia phrynostoma a formula cariotipica foi 2K = 18AM + 10A + 6M e nao foi observado nem polimorfismos nem contricoes secundarias. O fluorocromo DAPI marcou regioes dos bracos heterocromaticos e regioes proximas ao centromero em alguns cromossomos de ambas as especies. O CMA3 marcou o par heteromorfico de P. lucii e alguns pontos em outros cromossomos, enquanto marcou dois pares de cromossomos em P. phrynostoma. Apesar da similaridade no numero cromossomico, estas especies mostraram variacao tanto na morfologia quanto na composicao da cromatina o que pode ser reflexo da posicao filogenetica delas em diferentes clados.
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