Revisiting chromosome diversity and karyotype evolution in five Tulipa species (Liliaceae) from Uzbekistan

Chromosome structure plays an important role in plant evolution by influencing genome organization, species differentiation, and responses to environmental conditions. Chromosome architecture can shape genome function and correlate with taxonomic history, phenology, and stress tolerance, but the ecological and evolutionary significance of chromosomal variation is still poorly understood in many wild plant groups. We analyzed five wild Tulipa from Uzbekistan, T. affinis, T. kaufmanniana, T. ingens, T. tubergeniana, and T. turkestanica to quantify karyomorphometric variation and assess whether patterns are consistent with ecological or phylogenetic context. Using classical karyotyping and digital morphometrics, we quantified morphometric indices. All taxa were diploid (2n = 24) but chromosome sizes differed markedly. T. tubergeniana showed a derived, highly asymmetrical karyotype. T. ingens is comparatively stable while T. turkestanica has the smallest chromosomes with high AR. Across species, HCL spans 94.90–112.67 μm; larger HCL in T. kaufmanniana likely reflecting genome expansion. Digital measurements yielded lower chromosome length than historical studies, highlighting the improved precision of image-based approaches. Karyomorphometric profiles revealed karyotype divergence within the genus. Potential links to life-history and stress tolerance are hypotheses for future testing with phylogenomic and ecological experiments, with implications for conservation and climate-resilience planning.