The genus Allium Linnaeus, 1753 (tribe Allieae) contains about 800 species worldwide of which almost 38 species are reported in India, including the globally important crops (onion, garlic, leek, shallot) and many wild species. A satisfactory chromosomal catalogue of Allium species is missing which has been considered in the review for the species occurring in India. The most prominent base number is x=8, with few records of x=7, 10, 11. The genome size has sufficient clues for divergence, ranging from 7.8 pg/1C to 30.0 pg/1C in diploid and 15.16 pg/1C to 41.78 pg/1C in polyploid species. Although the karyotypes are seemingly dominated by metacentrics, substantial variation in nucleolus organizing regions (NORs) is noteworthy. The chromosomal rearrangement between A. cepa Linnaeus, 1753 and its allied species has paved way to appreciate genomic evolution within Allium. The presence of a unique telomere sequence and its conservation in Allium sets this genus apart from all other Amaryllids and supports monophyletic origin. Any cytogenetic investigation regarding NOR variability, telomere sequence and genome size in the Indian species becomes the most promising field to decipher chromosome evolution against the background of species diversity and evolution, especially in the Indian subcontinent.

中文翻译：

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葱属细胞遗传学：对印度分类群的批判性回顾

 葱属 Allium Linnaeus, 1753（Allieae 部落）在世界范围内包含约 800 个物种，其中印度报道了近 38 个物种，包括全球重要的作物（洋葱、大蒜、韭菜、小葱）和许多野生物种。缺少一个令人满意的葱属物种染色体目录，该目录已在对印度出现的物种的审查中考虑过。最突出的基数是 x=8，很少有 x=7、10、11 的记录。基因组大小有足够的分歧线索，二倍体范围从 7.8 pg/1C 到 30.0 pg/1C，二倍体范围从 15.16 pg/1C 到多倍体物种中为 41.78 pg/1C。尽管核型似乎以超着丝粒为主，但值得注意的是核仁组织区 (NOR) 的实质性变异。A. cepa Linnaeus 之间的染色体重排，1753 及其近缘物种为了解葱属植物的基因组进化铺平了道路。独特端粒序列的存在及其在葱属中的保守性使该属与所有其他石蒜科植物区分开来，并支持单系起源。任何关于印度物种 NOR 变异性、端粒序列和基因组大小的细胞遗传学研究都成为在物种多样性和进化背景下破译染色体进化的最有希望的领域，特别是在印度次大陆。