Cytogenetic Analysis of Four Hosta Species Native to Korea

The chromosome numbers and karyotypes were investigated in four Korean native species of the genus Hosta. The chromosome complements were diploid of 2n=60 in H. japonica var. lancifolia Nakai and H. capitata Nakai, aneuploid of 2n=59 in H. minor (Bak.) Nakai, and modified triploid of 2n=92 in H. longipes (Fr. et Sav.) Matsumura. All the species carried four sets of distinctly large chromosomes of which the chromosome types were telocentrics or subtelocentrics with $4.4{\sim}7.2\;{\mu}m$ in length. The other chromosomes were meta-, submeta, subtelo-, or telocentric types and showed gradual length degradation in the range of $1.0{\sim}3.0\;{\mu}m$. The satellites appeared vestigially in a pair or a triplet set of chromosomes which depends on the species. New chromosome number and karyotype in H. longipes were the first report in this species. The structural rearrangement was suggested to explain the modified triploid composition of 2n=92.