N. Colihueque, G. Gajardo-1996
Cytobios, 88: 141-148
Abstract:
Six Artemia populations from three countries in South America, one from Peru (Piura) and Brazil (Macau), and four from Chile (Pichilemu, Los Vilos, Salar de Atacama, Yape) were cytogenetically compared with reference samples of Artemia franciscana (San Francisco Bay) and A. persimilis (Buenos Aires). Diploid and chromocentre numbers of the San Francisco Bay (2n = 42 ad 12.5) and the Buenos Aires sample (2n = 44 and 1.59) corresponded with data previously reported. Samples of Macau, Piura, Los Vilos and Yape are similar to A. franciscana (all with 2n = 42 and 13.44, 7.89, 10.09 and 14.82 chromocentres, respectively), whilst Pichilemu and Salar de Atacama appear closer to A. persimilis (both samples with 2n = 44; no chromocentres and 4.36 chromocentres, respectively). Two nucleoli observed in resting nuclei of all samples suggest that at least two NOR would be present in the Artemia karyotype. Results support the current idea that Artemia populations from South America are mainly A. franciscana, though some of the Chilean samples seem to be genetically heterogeneous and cytogenetically closer to A. persimilis. The characterization of newly discovered populations as well as the assessment of the distribution range of A. franciscana and A. persimilis in the continent are discussed.
(Department of Basic Sciences, Universidad de Los Lagos, P. Box 933, Osorno, Chile)