Nuclear DNA contents, rDNAs, chromatin organization, and karyotype evolution in Vicia sect. faba

Automated karyotype analyses, nuclear DNA contents, and sequences of rDNA i nternal transcribed spacers of the nine species in Vicia sect. faba are rep orted. As karyomorphological parameters are used to evaluate the karyotype evolution, so the determination of the heterochromatin by Feulgen absorptio n at different thresholds of optical density provided further evidence on t he chromatin organization within Vicia sect. faba. The comparison of sequen ces of rDNA spacers has enabled the definition of the phylogenetic relation ships between the analyzed species.