Studies on chromosome numbers of Salvia miltiorrhiza, S. flava and S. evansiana / 中国中药杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the numbers of chromosome in Chinese herb Salvia miltiorrhiza from 7 provinces in China, and S. flava as well as S. evansiana from Yunnan province in China.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The young root was treated with the mixture of ice and water for 24 h, fixed with Carony's fixative for 6-12 h. After differentiating for 10-12 min with 1 mol x L(-1) hydrochloric acid at 60 'C and staining with carbol fuchsin,the section was observed under microscope.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Chromosome numbers of S. miltiorrhiza and S.flava were 2n = 2x = 16. The numbers of S. evansiana were 2n = 4x = 32. The basic numbers of the chromosomes were x = 8. And tetraploids were observed in S. miltiorrhiza from Sichuan provices and Shandong provices.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The basic number of the chromosomes are x = 8. The chromosome numbers of S. miltiorrhiza, S.flava and S. evansiana are 16,16 and 32 respectively. As the chromosomes are the small or micro-small ones, it is difficult to use them for karyotype.</p>