Characterization of nuclear DNA content and chromosome numbers of Tulipa luanica Millaku, T. kosovarica Kit Tan, Shuka & Krasniqi and T. albanica Kit Tan & Shuka

The Balkan Peninsula is considered an important centre of native tulip species. Tulipa kosovarica and Tulipa luanica are new species recently discovered in Kosovo, and Tulipa albanica in Albania. The current study aims at the investigating the nuclear DNA content and chromosome number of these three tulipa species in order to provide for the first time data on their genome size and differences among these three Tulipa species. Analysis of nuclear DNA content was performed by flow cytometer (Partec CyFlow Space) in mature fresh leaves for each Tulipa species. Samples for chromosome analysis were taken from the root tip meristem of the bulbs. Results showed significantly higher amounts of nuclear DNA (2C) in T. luanica compared to T. kosovarica and T. albanica. The chromosome number for these three species was 2n = 2x = 24, while the chromosome sizes of T. luanica resulted larger, compared to that of T. kosovarica and T. albanica. A correlation between the nuclear DNA content and chromosome size was found among these tulipa species. Moreover, nuclear DNA content and chromosome sizes of T. luanica, T. kosovarica and T. albanica showed clear differences among these species.