Plant Biosystems, 2013 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/11263504.2013.861532 Karyological and molecular characterisation of subgenus Vicia (Fabaceae) P. CAPUTO 1 , M. FREDIANI 2 , M. T. GELATI 2 , G. VENORA 3 , R. CREMONINI 4 ,& M. RUFFINI CASTIGLIONE 4 1 Dipartimento delle Scienze Biologiche, Sezione di Biologia Vegetale, Universita ` di Napoli Federico II, via Foria 233, 80139 Napoli, Italy; 2 Dipartimento A.F.N.E., Universita ` della Tuscia, via S.C. de Lellis, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; 3 Stazione Consorziale Sperimentale di Granicoltura per la Sicilia, via Sirio 1, 95041, Santo Pietro, CT, Italy and 4 Dipartimento di Biologia, Universita ` di Pisa, via Ghini 13, 56126 Pisa, Italy Abstract In the present report, we have analysed the subgenus Vicia by karyological and molecular approaches with the aim to clarify the relationships among Vicia species included in this subgenus by previously evidenced morphological investigations. Multivariate analysis using several karyomorphological parameters in addition to symmetry indices has allowed the construction of a dendrogram of linkage distances very useful to compare and to include in a phylogenetic tree obtained by internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA sequences. Moreover, a separate analysis was performed combining our molecular data on ITS sequences with those reported in the literature for the section Vicilla. Our analyses partly confirm the monophyletic status of the various sections in which the subgenus Vicia has been divided, however questioning, in some cases, the real need to maintain all the nine sections so far accepted and the placement of some individual species in the two subgenera Vicia and Vicilla. Keywords: Automated karyotype analysis, ITS DNA sequences, karyotype evolution, phylogeny, Vicia species Introduction recognised two subgenera, Vicilla (Schur) Rouy and Vicia, with 17 and 5 sections, respectively. This division The study of the taxonomic relationships between in two subgenera is still convincing with the subgenus the crops and their wild relatives has been always Vicia containing fewer species than Vicilla, but important especially in connection with the use of the comprising the more important agronomical crops. germplasm of wild (relatives) species as a source of Maxted et al. (1991) included two newly new characteristics to be introduced into the crop discovered species in Vicia section Faba sensu plants by wide crosses (Hajjar & Hodgkin 2007; Kupicha: V. kalakhensis Khattab, Maxted & Bisby Maxted et al. 2012; Yang et al. 2012). and V. eristalioides Maxted. In this connection, the genus Vicia L., as a Later Maxted (1993) proposed a new classifi- member of the legume tribe Vicieae Adans. (Faba- cation of subgenus Vicia where nine sections were ceae), including domesticated plants of considerable presented, instead of five of Kupicha, with 38 economic importance, has proved to be a popular species, 14 subspecies and 22 varieties and splitted, group of study, with 20 major classifications of the according to the data of 1991, the section Faba sensu genus since Linneus. The relationships between Kupicha in three distinct sections: Bithynicae Vicia faba L. and its putative allies of the subgenus (B. Fedtsch.) Maxted and Faba monospecific units, Vicia has always been controversial. and Narbonensis (B. Fedtsch.) Maxted, which Ball (1968) divided the genus into four sections: contained the seven species before referred to as Vicia, Cracca S.F. Gray, Ervum (L.) Tanb. and Faba the “Narbonensis” complex: V. eristalioides Maxted, (Miller) Ledeb.; afterwards Kupicha (1976) V. kalakhensis Khattab, Maxted & Bisby, V. johannis Correspondence: M. R. Castiglione, Dipartimento di Biologia, Universita ` di Pisa, via Ghini 13, 56126 Pisa, Italy. Tel: þ39 0502211317. Fax: þ39 0502211309. Email: mruffini@biologia.unipi.it q 2013 Societa ` Botanica Italiana Downloaded by [Gianfranco Venora] at 10:31 03 December 2013