DNA Composition and Mitotic Time Cycle Duration in the Evolution of Faba Bean and Its Wild Relatives

The composition of nuclear DNA and mitotic time cycle in Vicia faba, commonly known as Faba bean, and its close relatives grouped together in Narbonensis species complex are compared. The melting profile and buoyant density gradient analysis in the species, V. narbonensis, V. serratifolia, V. galilaea and V. hyaeniscyamus belonging to Narbonensis species complex and V. faba did not show any appreciable change in the base composition. The density gradient profiles in the species belonging to the complex showed the presence of a distinct satellite fraction in each species. This satellite fraction was absent in V. faba. The change in the total duration or the duration of different stages of mitotic cycle in the species belonging to the species complex was not significantly different. In comparison, V. faba had longer mitotic cycle duration.