Comparative karyotype analysis among six species of Ipomoea based on two newly identified repetitive sequences

Sweet potato is one of the most important crops worldwide; however, basic research in this crop is limited. In this study, we aimed to construct a detailed karyotype of six species of Ipomoea (hexaploid Ipomoea batatas and five related species, namely, one tetraploid, I. tabascana and four diploids, I. splendor-sylvae, I. trifida, I. tenuissima, and I. x leucantha) and understand the relationship among these species. Two satellite repeats (viz., Itf_1 and Itf_2) were identified from the diploid I. trifida genome sequence using RepeatExplorer on Galaxy. Together with the ribosomal DNA (rDNA), although without distinguishable chromosomes, a detailed karyotype was constructed for the six species. Our results showed a similar karyotype between I. tenuissima and I. x leucantha, indicating their close relationship. The signal distribution pattern of Itf_1, 45S rDNA combination, detected only in I. trifida, I. tabascana, and I. batatas, implied their close relationships. The chromosomes carrying 5S rDNA could be conserved among the six species as they always carried the Itf_2 signals, which generated a similar signal distribution pattern. The results enabled a detailed comparative cytogenetic analysis, providing valuable information to understand the relationship among these species and help assemble the genome sequence of the six species of Ipomoea.