Karyotype analyses in species of the family Marantaceae (550 species, 31 genera) were conducted to shed light on the reported strong variation of chromosome number and size and the occurrence of polyploidy. Special attention was paid to the alterations in basic chromosome numbers, karyotypes and ploidy levels. Taxon sampling covered the whole distribution area of Marantaceae in Africa, Asia and America. We applied mitotic chromosome counting using conventional rapid squash techniques in 43 accessions (39 species, 16 genera), evaluated literature records for 51 species and conducted karyotype analyses. Eleven different somatic chromosome numbers were found (2 n = 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 33, 44, 36, 52, 65, 72). Based on the presumed basic chromosome numbers of x = 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, this may correspond to diploid, triploid, tetraploid, pentaploid and octoploid levels, respectively. Dysploid variation, polyploidy and, to a lesser extend, hybridization may be the main factors in chromosome number evolution of the family. Our results also point to a certain degree of association with species diversification and geographical patterns.

中文翻译：

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异倍体和多倍体引发祈祷植物科（Marantaceae）染色体数量的强烈变化

对 Marantaceae 科物种（550 种，31 属）进行核型分析，以阐明所报告的染色体数量和大小的强烈变化以及多倍体的发生。特别注意基本染色体数目、核型和倍性水平的改变。分类单元采样覆盖了非洲、亚洲和美洲的马兰科植物的整个分布区域。我们使用常规快速挤压技术对 43 个种质（39 个物种，16 个属）应用有丝分裂染色体计数，评估了 51 个物种的文献记录并进行了核型分析。发现了 11 个不同的体细胞染色体数 (2 n = 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 33, 44, 36, 52, 65, 72)。根据假定的基本染色体数 x = 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14，这可能对应于二倍体、三倍体、四倍体、五倍体和八倍体水平，分别。异倍体变异、多倍体以及在较小程度上的杂交可能是该家族染色体数目进化的主要因素。我们的结果还指出与物种多样化和地理模式有一定程度的关联。