Cytogenetic study of Artemia from Urmiah, Maharloo and Incheborun Lakes

M. Yarmohammadi, M. Pourkazemi-2004

Hydrobiologia, 529(1): 99-104

Abstract :

Three populations of Artemia from Urmiah (West-Azarbaijan Province), Maharloo (Fars Province) and Incheborun (Golestan Province) Lakes in Iran were cytogenetically analyzed. In order to study the reproduction mode in Artemia populations, cyst samples were reared for three successive generations (F₁--F₃). The results obtained from rearing until maturation indicated that there are two subpopulations of Artemia in Urmiah lake (bisexual and parthenogenetic). These two subpopulations have the same diploid chromosome number (2 n =42). The results obtained from rearing and cytogenetic analysis of Artemia from Maharloo and Incheborun Lakes showed that these two populations are parthenogenetic and their chromosome number is also 2 n=42. So far, no cytogenetic differences in ploidy level have been detected among the populations investigated in this study. Very small chromosomes with metacentric, submetacentric and telocentric morphology were observed in mitotic prometaphase cells, implying that chromosomes of Artemia may be monocentric.

(Genetics Department, International Sturgeon Research Institute, Gilan, Iran)

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